A MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR

 

 

What Can Our Family Do for your Family?

                 Do you remember that question? Almost two years ago that question was the name of a sermon preached at Immanuel, and it was on our sign out front for a month. It is a question that communities of Jesus Christ should always be asking.

                  Plans are in the works for Immanuel to host a fall “Health Fair” to focus on resources and needs for seniors and caregivers in the Evergreen Park, Beverly and Oak Lawn area. Gathered under our roof will be local resources such as places for seniors to live and people who shovel snow and cut grass for those looking to stay in their home. Advocate Christ Medical Center will be working with us to provide resources to do screening and to teach people skills for self-care.

                   Along with the resources offered to seniors will be a chance for seniors to be a voice. We want to collect information about what seniors and their caregivers need. Is it help with the cost of medications? Is it homecare or seeking a place they can afford to live? What do area seniors need from local churches? Do they need help getting to churches? Help getting supplies? It will be an opportunity to listen to people‟s needs and see if we can connect resources and needs.

                     How is this fair possible: because of our new Mission & Care Committee, Advocate Christ Medical Center and a generous donation. All three will work together to give information to seniors and their caregivers and to collect information from them. Advocate Christ Medical Center has created a committee called Advocate Congregational Health Partnerships. The committee, which I have been invited to sit on, was created for the hospital to reach out to people through the local congregations. Remember the Gospel story of the friends who made a hole in the roof and lowered the paralyzed man in front of Jesus? This committee could give churches a chance to bring people to the proper care where human hands can be the hands of Jesus for people in our own community.

                     During my Clinical Pastoral Education Unit at Christ Hospital last year, I met many local area seniors who arrived at the Emergency Department by ambulance. What I found is that had they known about some community and health resources, they may never have been in that ambulance. Many others arrived at the hospital after being found unconscious in their home. Because they were unable to communicate with the E.D. staff, information such as chronic conditions, medications taken or next of kin to call was unavailable. It is simple things like having a medical emergency form posted openly in their home that makes the difference between feeling secure or feeling vulnerable in an emergency. Recently, members of Immanuel met with neighbors at the Immanuel Residence to help them fill out emergency forms to keep on the back of their front door. A local police officer told me that those forms were “A God-send.” He said now the paramedics went into the residences knowing if the patient was disorientated, helpful information was on the door.

                   Resources, health tips, preventative tests, people who pray for you and support you spiritually are all parts of the community that everyone should have access to. Our family will have the opportunity to make it happen for another family. If you are interested in helping with the fall event or if you have ideas, please see the chair of the Mission & Care Committee, Bradley Rahm.

                                                                                                               Blessings, Pastor Yvette