Two months out
Good one! Sacred Leaf
“Sacred Leaf,” a program at MapleCreek, senior living provided by Lutheran Social Services of Michigan in Grand Rapids, offers comfort and supports people through the end-of-life process. The program’s kit includes a flameless
Clemson, S.C., police, fire and emergency workers enjoy an annual lunch provided by University Lutheran Church.
Appreciating blue L
ike many ministries and traditions, the annual Men and Women in Blue Appreciation Day luncheon at University Lutheran Church, Clemson, S.C., is an idea transplanted from a previous congregation. Another couple started it, explained Jean Doerr, who helped con-
tinue it.
The gracious gesture of thanking police, fire and emergency work- ers (about 20 from each branch) with food and table decorations of red, white and blue has been happening for several years in Clemson. Doerr won’t be spearheading the effort this year, but is still an expert on the luncheon. She believes other congregations could easily dupli- cate what University does.
For three years the congregation invited the men and women in blue to lunch at church, usually around Memorial Day weekend. University would serve up barbecued pork between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., but varying work shifts made it increasingly difficult for the public servants to attend. So last year the church decided to make and deliver pot pies, salads and desserts to the workers. “They were actually waiting for us,” Doerr said. University puts a note in with the food deliv-
ery, thanking the public servants for “securing our safety.” “We’re a small town and nothing like the larger
cities,” Doerr continued, “but this is a nice group of people and I don’t know if they’re ever given that sort of appreciation. We really do appreci- ate them.”
candle, CD player and CDs, lip balm, lotion, tissue, a journal and pen for visitors, and a booklet to help people understand the physical process of death. As his father neared death, Sacred Leaf
provided solace for John Horning and his family—sister Linda Heine and their mother (a resident of The Woods, part of the senior living complex). “When we kept the light low and the candle on, it helped set a gentle mood,” Horning said. “When we didn’t know what to do, I suggested that Mom put the chap- stick on his lips, and rub his head and face with the lotion. I think Dad felt more com- fortable when Mom was doing this for him. People who came to visit would write in the journal, and we knew other people had been there. We were pleasantly surprised to see who had stopped in, read to him from the Bible and prayed with him, particularly some employees.” Sacred Leaf is the creation of Rebecca Ebb-Spease, an ELCA pastor and MapleCreek’s direc- tor of pastoral care, and Jill Schro- tenboer, social worker. For more infor-
mation, write
rebbs@lssm.org.
Send congregational stories—both those for a specific month/holiday or your best timeless idea—to
julie.sevig@
thelutheran.org. March 2013 41
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