Welcome to ELPNA-the Evangelical Lutheran
Parish Nurse Region 8 web page.
Allow us to introduce ourselves.

If you have news to share from your Synod or Network, let us know so we can post.

Ruth Manchester originally hails from Minnesota, and after taking her nurses training at Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, MN and obtaining a BSN at the University of Minnesota, she then moved to the Washington, DC area. She has been a paid parish nurse at Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD for the past 18 years. In this capacity, she is in charge of Caring Ministries, Social Ministry, and the one-to-one caring that a parish nurse does. She has an MA in art history from the University of Maryland, so combines her love of art with Parish Nursing. She is mom to Sarah and Dan and “Grandma” to Raina, Alden, Evan, and Aaron.

Marilee Tollefson is from South Dakota, has a BSN from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, during which time she joined the Army Student Nurse Program, and was on active duty for 23 years. During that time she earned MSN, and upon retirement from the Army Nurse Corps, worked at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, DC. She is currently paid staff faith community nurse at Lutheran Church of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, MD for the past 17 years, coordinating care teams, serving as staff liaison to Social Ministry, and supporting many volunteers on the Health and Wellness Teams.  Marilee has two daughters, Sara and Mari Liv and is “Gramma” to Lauren, Eric, and Emery.

We are members of the Holy Cross Hospital network of faith community nurses.

Bereavement Support

For those who are grieving the death of a loved one, the Holy Cross Bereavement Program offers a nine-week grief support program
that is held on Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. ET and drop-in grief group meetings held every other Saturday, 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET or every other Thursday, 12-1 p.m. ET at the Holy Cross Resource Center, 9805 Dameron Drive, Silver Spring, and one Saturday a month, 2-3:30 p.m. ET, at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, 19801 Observation Drive, Germantown, MD 20876.  Spanish language groups are also offered.  For more information, contact the Bereavement Center at 301-754-7742 or bereavementcenter@holycrosshealth.org

Hope Connections for Cancer
You're not alone.
At Hope Connections for Cancer Support, you will find a community of support for all people affected by cancer.  
https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org

Workshops and Educational Programs

FCN Monthly Circle

The FCN Monthly Circle is open to all those in Health Ministry to connect and to share some resources and fellowship.  The Circle is held the fourth Wednesday of every month effective 2/24/2021 until 2/23/2022 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Eastern Time. there may be a program and the remaining time will be sharing other resources and reflection.  The link to join the webex is below. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

https://trinity-health.webex.com/trinity-health/j.php?MTID=m9607425ca13192ddad51e8665beebbb6

Saint Luke Lutheran in Silver Spring is Recipient of an
ELCA Hunger Grant

Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring was awarded a $3000 Hunger Grant from the ELCA. It was used it to provide classes for our food pantry recipients. Six sessions of five days each were held in English and Spanish by an educator from the University of Maryland Extension under a program called EFNEP-Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. On May 8, Saint Luke was recognized as a “Hero” of the program. The grant monies were used to award the attendees with a gift card from a local grocery store. (The educational program was state-funded.) Ruth Manchester, Parish Nurse, is receiving the award. Hunger Grants for 2020 are now open for application. Visit the ELCA website for more information.

Highlighting Community Partners

Prevention Services of the Northwestern Community Services Board

Last week I met with two prevention specialists and learned of the multitude of FREE resources available through this community partner.  Their mission is to prevent substance misuse and suicide and to promote mental wellness in the Lord Fairfax Planning District. This link gives more information on services and the work they are doing: 

http://www.nwcsb.com/prevention.php.  Representatives are scheduled to present to our network in September, and will provide more details on services, including those listed below.

Lock and TALK Virginia provides services and materials designed to promote safe and responsible care of guns, medication, and other lethal means.  www.lockandtalk.org

Mental Health First Aid USA is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.   www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org