Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness | The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter

As we continue individual and community responses to COVID-19, most readers of this newsletter are staying home, worshipping virtually, and using various social media approaches to stay connected.  An interesting perspective to the term social distancing is shared by Philip Metres, professor of English and director of the Peace, Justice, and Human Rights program at John Carroll University.   In this excerpt from a Letter to His Students, “To Expand the Moral Imagination in the Confines of Quarantine”; he comments:

For example, we need to understand how crucial social distancing can be as a public health strategy, even as we also need to find ways of reaching out to each other. My therapist rightly pointed out that the term is wrong: we need physical distance and social connection.” 

Staying connected and maintaining support to parishioners and clergy staff is occurring in many innovative, intentional ways.  It is also important for health and wellness ministers and faith community nurses to provide accurate information to communities. 

This issue of the newsletter focuses on resources you can access related to Coronavirus COVID-19.  A regular review of these Web-based Resources can provide you with ongoing updates.  

Additional resources were included in the COVID-19 Supplement April 2, 2020 of  Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness UCC Wellness Ministries Newsletter which you can access on the United Church of Christ website:    

TRUSTED WEB SOURCES:

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

The latest situation summary updates are available on CDC’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) web page.

CDC also has these two sites:

National Institutes of Health - Coronavirus

United Church of Christ (UCC)  - Coronavirus and the Church

Sections include Helping Churches Respond, Stewardship, Legislative Updates, From Church Leaders, Clergy Self-Care, UCC News and Daily Briefings by Barbara Baylor, and General Resources.

American Nurses Association

Health Ministries Association (HMA)
Links to CDC sites, World Health Organization (WHO), SAMHSA Behavioral Health, Emotional/Spiritual Resources

Check with your state’s Department of Health and your state’s Nursing Association for updates pertaining to your state.

SAFETY:

Face Masks: CDC recommends face masks to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Topics on this page include how to wear a face mask, cleaning masks, how to safely remove a mask, and patterns for making masks.

Safety Tips:

Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Your Home: 

ADVANCE DIRECTIVES:

MENTAL HEALTH:

General Resources:

Care of Persons with Dementia:People with dementia may not be able to remember to wash their hands or maintain social distance.  They may not understand changes to the routine of the household, or facility where they live. 

Self-Care: 

CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND RESPONSES TO PANDEMIC:

CHURCH DURING PANDEMIC:

VOLUNTEERISM:

 

Check your state’s website for volunteer opportunities near you.  Check your area’s non-profit and volunteer center for needed volunteer activities. 

CONFERENCES:

KEEP CONNECTED:

Visit our FaceBook and Linked-In pages:Post comments or share information about your health ministries; join in conversations.

  

Previous issues of the newsletter
Use previous year’s monthly newsletters to aid your search for links to resources on health ministries and wellness topics:

Contact us:

  • Have something you want to share with your colleagues?

  • Are you looking for something to assist you in your ministry? 

  • Interested in joining the Leadership Team for the Wellness Ministries of the UCC?

Let us hear from you.

Contact:
Alyson Breisch and/or Deb Stankiewicz