Dear Friends in Christ,   As Parish Nurse of St. John the Divine I’d like to welcome you to our website and invite you to come and worship with us. I would also like to introduce you to the ministry of Parish Nursing.   In the Bible we find many stories and verses about health and healing, one of my favorites being 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit…you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”  This tells us that it is our responsibility to take care of our bodies as well as our minds and spirits, since we are truly all three, body, mind and spirit and all 3 need to be cared for and kept in balance.   The health ministry focuses on “wholistic” health by increasing knowledge, personal responsibility and interdependence among God’s people. St. John the Divine has a health ministry team which has as its purpose to assist the faith community in reclaiming the Gospel mission of health and wholeness through promoting health and wellness activities and lifestyle changes.   My role as Parish Nurse is to support pastoral care and parish health ministries. I am a registered nurse with advanced education in combining the spiritual, mental and physical care of individuals and congregations. I work with members of the pastoral staff, health ministry team and the entire parish to promote the highest level of wellness possible for our faith community. As Parish Nurse I am:   ·        a Health Educator, providing information on health conditions, treatments and prevention. ·        a Health Counselor, listening and responding to health concerns of individuals and their families. I do not duplicate the services of other health professionals nor do I provide any invasive care such as giving injections or wound care. ·        a Referral Source for health services, linking members’ needs with resources in the community. ·        an Advocate for members who have difficulty in receiving adequate health services.   If you have any health related concerns about yourself or a family member you are welcome to meet with me. You can reach me by calling the church at 763-7482 ext. 24. If I’m not there you may leave a message and I will get back to you in a timely manner. All messages  will be kept confidential.   Lastly, if you have any interest in promoting health and wellness in our faith community, please contact me. You do NOT need medical background, just a desire to be healthy and help others in their quest to be healthy.   Blessings to you, I look forward to meeting you.   Maureen Redmer, RN