First Church of Christ, Congregational

Care Ministry
Christian Education
Childcare
Youth Ministry
Family Ministry
Music Ministry & Choirs
Caring Ministries
Faith Community Nursing
Christian Service
Lay Life & Ministry
Adult Education
Media Ministry
HELPFUL LINKS
United Church of Christ
The Connecticut Conference
UCC EcoAction
Our Christian Links Page


click Flyer to download

Education/Ministries

Faith Community Nursing (FCN)

A Partnership of Health and Faith

What is Faith Community Nursing?

Faith Community Nursing is a care program of layleaders, including licensed nurses, who serve to promote well-being in mind, body and spirit.

Our Mission is the intentional integration of the practice of health with the practice of faith, so that people may achieve wholeness in, with, and through the community of faith in which Faith Community Nurses serve.

What Do We Do?

We offer:

Educational Programs as well as Individual Counseling on Health Care Issues that affect your health, the community, your home, and the health of loved ones.

• Blood Pressure Screenings and Information on medications.


We Serve As:

Integrators of Faith and Health by providing spiritual care, assessing and nurturing the human spirit, which is part of the wholistic care that we offer. Our Healing Services are one example of this integration.

Coordinator of Volunteers; recruiting, training, supervising and partnering with volunteers working in and with this ministry.

Who Are The Faith Community Nurses?

They come from diverse backgrounds. Your FCN may come from the surgical or neonatal area of a hospital, or be working in the community as a health care provider.

Faith Community Nursing Coordinator: Margie Kreitler, MS RN

If you are interested in joining FCN or wish to speak with us about a health issue, please contact the First Church Office by phone or by e-mail.

All information shared with us will be kept confidential unless you present issues that indicate you are a danger to yourself or others.

Why Faith Community Nurses?

When Christianity began, the church was a major influence in all dimensions of life, looking after people's emotional and physical needs as well as their spiritual concerns.

Over the years, health care became the domain of the medical community. But in recent years, we have become more aware of the powerful connection between a person's physical condition, mental state and spiritual well-being. Hence the concept of "whole person health care."

Having Faith Community Nurses (parish nurses) as part of a congregation's ministry integrates this idea of "whole person health care" into the church.

Qualifications of a Faith Community Nurse:

  • Registered nurse currently licensed in the State of Connecticut.
  • At least five years nursing experience.
  • Knowledge of the sacramental and spiritual life of the church.
  • Experience in teaching and health counseling.
  • Knowledge and practice of whole person health philosophy.
  • Ability to work with highly diverse types of individuals and groups.

For further information or to contact a Faith Community Nurse,
please leave a message at the Church office (633-4641).


Faith Community Nursing Annual Report

The Faith Community Nursing (FCN) Program at First Church has four nurses involved in illness prevention activities this year with an emphasis on whole person health, realizing the important connection between our body, mind and spirit. The philosophy of the program is primary prevention, or offering knowledge and resources to people before illness comes into their lives. Our focus is on wellness. The Nurses currently a part of the program are Sarah Betts, Charlene Dann, Margie Kreitler and Charlotte Mowry. We wish to thank Melissa Clair for helping us during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We offered four educational programs this year. The first, in the fall, was entitled Healthy Living: A Healthy You. Information was provided on toxic substances in our homes, what we eat, cleaning products, air fresheners, aerosol containers and skin products. Our experts were Tina Clarke, Director for Clean Water Action in CT and MA; and Dr. Helen Pulnick, who holds a Masters in Nutrition and is a Naturopathic Physician and a Registered Pharmacist. During Lent, we offered two programs on Advanced Directives. The first was a discussion entitled Spiritual Dimensions of End of Life Decisions led by our Senior Pastor David Taylor, Physicians Assistant and church member John McNab, and Bonnie McKenzie, a Clinical Nurse Specialist with VNA Hospice. During the discussion, The 5 Wishes Program was introduced to us by Bonnie. A follow up to this event, Getting Your Ducks in a Row was offered during the daytime. This provided an opportunity for members to learn about funeral planning from Tom Mulryan from Mulryan Funeral Home. Rev. Ruth Martz talked about the planning of memorial services and receptions at the time of death. Attorney Sharon Purtill, a member of our church, explained advanced directives. Glen Berwick, also a member, talked about financial planning in later years. This years’ final program offered by the FCN was Exercising Your Mind, presented by Seabury Speakers’ Bureau.

The FCN offered Blood Pressure Screenings about every month with four to six people taking advantage of the time for screening of blood pressures, as well as the opportunity to ask and discuss health issues.

We also participated in community events by having representation on the town committee entitled Friends of Hartford VNA, which serves Glastonbury as well as participating at the FCN table at The Glastonbury Wellness Fair held in May.

The FCN Team promotes whole person health, recognizing the connection of mind, body and spirit. Healing services, held once a month, were led by Charlene Dann and Rev. Ruth Martz. These services included prayer, song and Scripture, as well as the opportunity to experience the laying on of hands and/or anointing with oil. The average attendance was 7-10 people. Most services were held at 7 p.m. in the Quiet Room; two services were held during the day.

April 23, Charlene Dann, Margie Kreitler, Sarah Betts and Ruth Martz had the opportunity to attenda Parish Nurse Symposium with keynote speaker, Rev. Kathleen Rusnak, Ph.D. The topic was: "Exploring Inner Strength, Joy and Hope for Caregivers." Two new CDs of lectures by Rev. Rusnak were purchased for the Church library; 1) Loss, Grief, and Elder Care and 2) Before they Forget: Maximizing the Spiritual Possibilities of Alzheimer’s.

Respectfully submitted by Margie Kreitler, Chair; Charlene Dann and Sarah Betts


Faith Community Nurses
Charlotte Mowry
Margie Kreitler
Charlene Dann
Sarah Betts


SOURCE:
Annual Report for First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury, Connecticut,
April 2008