Newsletter

Note from the Director

Summer is upon us. For many parish nurses and people who coordinate health ministry programs, this is a great opportunity to plan for the fall and busy holiday season ahead. One wise sage once said, “if you do not plan, you will continue to do what you have always done”. Another wise sage said, “life is what happens while you are planning for it”. I have had great plans for the summer and all I want to get done for the fall. It has not happened as of yet, but there are still two months ahead. I am trying to remain optimistic and enjoy life while I am preparing to plan… I hope you are all having better success. Some of the plans we made this Spring that have come to fruition are: 1) the Parish Nurse Basic Preparation Program had 13 wonderful, new Parish Nurses complete the program in May. 2) the Celebration Luncheon was a delightful gathering of parish nurses, pastors, health cabinet members, staff, advisory council members and the many people who support Health Ministry in our state. 3) a Health Ministry Information Luncheon in Willcox, presented in collaboration with Cathedral Health Services and Northern Cochise Community Hospital, had approximately 20 RNs attend to learn about parish nursing and health ministry.

It will be fun to see what plans the Divine has for us as the fall unfolds. Until then,

Blessings,

Sandy Somers, RN, MS

Pass The Pasta Please

Rose Coulter, RN

Assistant Director

I have a passion for collecting and trying every kitchen tool available. When I was on a recent thrift store shopping-spree, the pasta maker that was neatly wrapped with all of its disks and extras, caught my undivided attention. There were even directions included. I could not leave it on the shelf. After all it was complete, calling my name, and I didn’t have one. I was ecstatic. As soon as I arrived home, out came the flour and visions of homemade pasta were soon to become a reality. After 4 hours of struggle, cleaning, and one small batch of rigatoni, eaten in 10 minutes, I understood why its owner had abandoned the machine. I too bagged it and placed it in my discard pile. It made me chuckle. I wonder in how many kitchens that machine had been. I reflected on how grateful I am that God, as the Master pasta maker, does not care if we are macaroni, rigatoni, spaghetti, or linguine. God gives us the opportunity to become perfectly shaped in every way and loves us with all of our squiggles, ridges, and imperfections. What a blessing when God says, "pass the pasta please"!

Central Valley 3rd Wednesday July16, 2003 12:00-2:00pm Bring Your Brown Bag Lunch	12:00 Networking and Lunch 12:45 Tour & Program by United Methodist Outreach Ministries 1:45 Closing Prayer Place: United Methodist Outreach Ministries (UMOM) 3320 E. Van Buren Phoenix, AZ 85008 (602) 889-0673
West Valley 4th Wednesday July 23, 2003 12:00-1:30pm Bring Your Brown Bag Lunch	12:00 Networking and Lunch 12:45 “Fraud Regarding Elders” Kelly Ouellette, First Financial Equity Corporation Place:American Lutheran Church of Sun City 17200 Del Webb Blvd. Sun City, AZ 85273 (623) 974-2512

Rose Coulter, RN

Assistant Director

AZ State Braille and Talking Book Library