Health and Caring Ministries at First United Methodist Church
Health and Caring Ministries Coordinator
Sage River, our coordinator of Health & Caring Ministries, is available to assist members and friends of FUMC with health and wellness issues in a variety of ways. Some of her activities include: making home, hospital, and nursing home visits; providing support and counseling on health-related issues for individuals and their families or loved ones; making referrals to community resources; providing support for those experiencing grief and bereavement; and finding resources on different health-related topics and illnesses.
Please do not hesitate to contact Sage at 354-5484 or sage-river@icfirstchurch.org if she or the Health & Caring Ministry can support you or your family.
On call phone system in place (621-1325)
Because emergencies and other crises of life don’t always occur Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 and 5, the Pastoral Care Team (Lead Pastor Paul Akin, Associate Pastor John Raab, and Health & Caring Ministries Coordinator Sage River) have put together a “24/7” on-call system, enabling members of our congregation to reach one of us around the clock, allowing us to respond more immediately to crisis situations.
Even if it’s midnight on a Friday, one of the Team Members will – on a rotating basis – be available. Simply dial 621-1325, and you will reach the member of our Pastoral Care Team who is “on call.” Examples of instances when you might want to call include, but are not limited to: injury, hospitalization, death or family break-up.
Ministry Action Teams
Please contact Sage River at (phone) or (Email) if you are moved to express your faith in any of these ministries
Visitation Ministry:
Regular visitation with person(s) in Nursing Home or Homebound. Training & support provided.
Bereavement Cards: Send notes of sympathy following a death.
Birthday cards: Send cards to those in nursing homes or homebound.
Blood Pressure Clinic: Help to conduct periodic blood pressure screenings.
Blue Christmas: Assist with a special Christmas service for people who have experienced a loss.
Care Notes Display:
Order materials & stock the "Care Notes" display Cart.
Christmas Cards: Help to design & send cards to nursing home & homebound persons.
Emergency / First Aid: Update and distribute information on first aid supplies & emergency guidelines.
First Aid Supplies: Stock First Aid classes with supplies/equipment.
Health Education Library:
Maintain the Health & Caring Area of the FUMC library & update health ministry resources.
Heart Healthy Dinner:
Help to plan, organize, and serve a meal which incorporates dishes which are good for heart health.
Homecoming Service: Help to organize a service for homebound & retirement center residents.
Hospice CD Drive: Promote and collect CD's for donation to Iowa City Hospice Music Library.
Mental Health / Compeer: Provide outreach, support, and education about mental illness.
Women's Hospitality Basket: Provide and stock a basket of sanitary supplies for women's restrooms.