Welcome to the United Church of Sun City
Greetings from your Parish Nurse!
Sun Health has been brining quality speakers to our church each month to address health and wellness concerns we have. The latest one on skin care was eye opening! Don’t miss them!
The next one will be on September 10 at 10:30 am in the Beehive. The topic to be addressed is common concerns about our feet! We take our feet so for granted until they begin to have some pain or difficulty. Come and find out what you can do to prevent problems in the future!
I have been thinking much about “presence” lately. In our Wednesday morning study group, we have been following the spiritual formation journey of four fictional women. But we have also been challenged to think about our own spiritual journey. Anyone that would like to join us in this journey is welcome on Wednesday mornings “Converse and Connect” at 10:00 am in the Beehive. One of the practices that was discussed was the practice of “Prayer of Examen.” The challenge is to think through our past day and identify several things:
- Where have I seen God in my day? How has He been with me and me with Him?
- Where has God felt hidden or absent from my day?
- What has brought me excitement, peace or fulfillment today? What has been difficult for me or frustrated me and how have I responded? How can I be grateful? What do I need to confess?
The idea is to begin to see our day to day life not just as a physical or emotional happening, but also as a spiritual journey. It helps to open our eyes to Immanuel which means “God is with us.”
The other part of “presence” that I have been thinking about is our gift of presence to each other in our congregation. We all enjoy getting together on Sunday morning and enjoying not only the service, but our fellowship together.
But what does it mean to be present for someone else in a small group or one-to-one interaction? How do we do that? A part of it is just getting to know each other on a more personal level than we are able to on Sunday mornings. Many of the church’s planned activities promote this; activities like Bible Study on Thursday mornings, Walking Group on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, TAI CHI on Monday afternoons, monthly Men’s Breakfast and Ladies Lunch, the Wednesday morning discussion group and the Senior Exercise classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. All of these groups have a focus, but the added benefit is that we connect with each other and can be there for each other.
A time when we especially need to feel the presence of others is when we are ill, or struggling, or in the midst of grieving. I often wonder “what can I do?” in that situation. But I find that so often what is most appreciated is just my being present with that person. Maybe sending a card, or making a phone call that lets them know you care. Maybe it is sitting down with them to listen to what they are thinking and feeling. Our caring and “being there” for one another is more important than we can imagine. So set aside a little time this week to “be present” with someone you have gotten to know in our church body. Be the hands of Christ as we hold up and encourage one another.
Staying Connected,
Lisa Dunbar, Parish Nurse
Dispelling Some of the Information About the COVID-19 Vaccine
As a Parish Nurse, the pandemic of COVID-19 has certainly brought many challenges in focusing on the health of our congregation. Currently, the challenge is to help our congregation members to understand, to make an educated decision, and to receive the vaccination.
I have found that the first hurdle is in educating our congregation. I have been able to put short articles in the church newsletter, and to send an all-church email that gave information about the vaccine. It focused on dispelling some of the misinformation being disseminated on the web. For instance:
Concerns have been expressed about the vaccine being developed so quickly. Is it safe?
Although we don’t have years of research, the companies developing the vaccines tested it on the usual number of people that they have tested before with any new drug or vaccine. The difference in the timing is because much of the governmental bureaucracy that slows down the process after the test is finished was mitigated. The testing itself was still completed in a manner similar to other vaccines. As with any new treatment, vaccine or drug, there are potential side effects, but for the vast majority of recipients, the benefit far outweighs the risk.
I have heard about people reacting to the vaccine and becoming very ill, or even dying. Is this true?
As with anything that we put into our body, we run a risk of being allergic to a substance in the medication or vaccine. At times, this may be a severe reaction called anaphylactic shock. In this case, the allergy may cause the body to swell tissues especially of the neck and trachea that may result in shortness of breath, a racing heart, and at its worse, a cardiac arrest. This is the reason that any recipient of the vaccine is required to remain at the site for 30 minutes after the injection as this is the time period where an anaphylactic reaction would take place. Each site is equipped with medical personnel and supplies to deal with this type of allergic reaction.
This happens very, very rarely. The current numbers are 11 reactions like this in 1 million recipients. These reactions may also occur after an influenza vaccination injection at a slightly lower rate. Although very serious for the 11, the 999,989 other recipients had no serious problems. A recipient of the vaccine may commonly have minor symptoms – a sore arm, muscle or joint pain, a low grade fever – similar to symptoms following other vaccinations. These are from an inflammatory response our body produces after a foreign substance has been introduced and usually only lasts 24-48 hours.
I have heard this vaccine may change my DNA. Is that true?
There is nothing in the vaccine to change our DNA. This vaccine is a new technology. In the past, vaccinations have carried in them a weakened amount of virus, which immediately stimulated our bodies to make antibodies to fight off the infection, The new Covid 19 vaccine has no weakened virus in it. Instead, it carries a message to our RNA to watch for an identifying factor on the virus – in this case a “spike” on the virus body. When our body recognizes that factor, it then begins very rapidly producing antibodies to fight the virus.
So a recipient may in fact “have the virus” for a short time before the antibodies are produced. It fights the virus before serious symptoms develop so one does not become ill. But it does raise the question of whether someone who has been vaccinated may still “spread” the virus even though they may have no symptoms. Studies continue to focus on this question. This is why even after vaccination, we may be required to wear masks in public places where social distancing is not possible.
Are fetal cells used in the production of the vaccine?
Fetal cell lines from fetuses in the 1960s and 1970s continue to be used in much of the early testing of many of our vaccines and other drugs. These tissues are registered and reported as the testing takes place. But no recent fetal tissue has been used in developing the Moderna or Pfizer Vaccinations. Other vaccines, notably the one from Johnson and Johnson, do continue to use more recently harvested fetal tissue in their development. There may be other companies as well.
After educating our congregation, the next step has been to identify those who are most vulnerable and require help in registering for the vaccination.
I began to make phone calls on those over 75, and those with chronic illnesses. Many had family or friends who were working with them to register for an appointment and who were willing to transport them to the appointment.
However, some of our congregants did not have access to a computer or were not able to complete the process on their own. I was able to assist them over the phone, at times registering them as my “family members” (after all, we are a church family!). I also helped to arrange transportation for those needing assistance.
Finally, I have continued to follow up with those registering – reminding them to take their ID and insurance card, walking them through the process at the sites, and informing them of the possibility of minor discomfort after that could be treated with Tylenol. I also continue to remind everyone to continue their social distancing precautions, handwashing, and wearing a mask.
Some in our congregation have chosen to wait to receive the vaccine. Some because of concern of long-term effects of the vaccine, others wish to wait for the vaccines with only 1 injection. I continue to share information with them, and to support them as they continue to follow the social distancing precautions and choose to remain limited in their social activities.