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Welcome

Welcome to the website of the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association! We seek to be the light of Christ as we integrate faith and health in the ministry of parish nursing. Here you will find information about parish nursing, tools to assist you in your ministry, as well as updates on our progress and activities. May God bless you with peace and joy!

National Board Members from across the US enjoy meeting together
in Chicago for a retreat, September 2019

Nancy Roberts, Nancy Deetz, Andy West, and Carolyn
at our ELPNA Display, Westberg 2019

Coronavirus Information

We will be posting various links to information about the Coronavirus as they come to our attention. Please click on this link to find all the updated information:

http://www.elpna.org/resources/general-resources.php

Sharing our Covid-19 Stories

By Marilyn Kranich

"Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida is the home to the sweetest group of quilters in South West Florida. They meet every Tuesday at 1:00, and amid camaraderie and chit-chat and coffee, they create glorious quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Due to "Safer in Place" restrictions, these ladies can no longer gather at church. They describe collections of fabric overrunning their sewing rooms, and decided to assemble masks at home. These have been delivered to Lee Health, to an overwhelmed and grateful hospital staff.

As the Parish Nurse at Peace, a youthful 90 year old man and I serve communion to the residents of a memory care facility. It is a privilege to know these brothers and sisters. They are well cared for and loved by their caregivers, and we look forward to connecting with them each month. That has not been possible during this Coronavirus crisis, and we miss them.

Therefore, we delivered pizza to the CNAs. I am so proud of them! There have been zero infections among their patients or staff. Well done, Pacifica.

I am aware of many valuable ministries our PNs are conducting to combat isolation, provide food, and meet the needs of those God has placed in our care. We pray for those we serve in our corners of the world. Please share your stories, so we can tell the world what PNs are doing and we can expand our outreach. Thank you."

Summary of The International 7th Annual

Caring for the Human Spirit® Conference and the

2020 Westberg Symposium

This was held virtually April 20-22 due to the Coronavirus restrictions.

Please click below for summaries of the presentations.

https://www.spiritualcareassociation.org/conference-summaries-2020.html

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR STARTING A PARISH/FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE MINISTRY!!

Greetings from the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association (ELPNA

We have an exciting opportunity for Lutheran congregations who would like to start or develop a parish nurse ministry within their faith community. Members of the ELPNA have long been supportive of new parish nurse ministry start-ups and are acutely aware of the challenging financial situations of congregations. In response to this need, the ELPNA will annually provide start-up funds for a minimum of two (2) Lutheran congregations. Congregations can request up to $750.00 as a start-up grant.

Comments from other congregations that have a parish nursing ministry:

Pastor Cheryl Mathison – St. Philip the Deacon

We are so grateful to have our parish nurse at St. Philip the Deacon. Her creative energy, passion for health and deep faith help us to reach out to more people in new ways. We are so thankful for the grant, which has helped us to meet the needs of this large faith community.

Connie A. Miller, Senior Pastor, Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Silver Spring, Maryland

I have served here at Saint Luke for 20 years and have had an amazing Parish Nurse/Director of Caring Ministries for 18 of those years and cannot imagine being in ministry at Saint Luke without her. What a resource, vital partner in ministry for our entire staff, and a wholistic health adviser and medical professional connection for the wider church and community. I can say first hand that Parish/Faith Community Nurses are sheer gifts from God.

We are asking for your assistance in publicizing the information to Lutheran congregations. Grant applications are due by December 1st, 2020 via an electronic submission process. The awards will be announced by within a month of receipt of application with funds issued within the 30 days of approval of the grant. Application forms are available on the ELPNA.org website.

We are pleased to be able to award these grants to promote and support parish nurse ministry.

Blessings,
The ELPNA Board

Click here for the application

Click Here to download our Brochure!!

The ELPNA National Executive Committee
Carol DeSchepper, Chair (Region 3) cjdeschepper@gmail.com
Marie Wiegert, Co-Chair (Region 3) mariewiegert@hotmail.com
Andrea West, Secretary (Region 2) amwestrn@yahoo.com
June Sand, Treasurer (Region 3) djsand@comcast.net

Updated 5/21//20