This week’s collection brings us stories of medical ministry to people across the country struggling to find appropriate treatment, and two congregations on the west coast finding new ways to reach out and share the Good News with people in their community.
St. Andrew’s in Panama City Florida is opening the doors to its new Prescription Assistance Program:
“The purpose of the PAP is to assist low-income individuals obtain necessary prescription medications through the various compassionate care programs offered by the pharmaceutical companies. ‘It is an honor and a privilege to partner with the Bay County Health Department, and to offer space to help those in our area who might go without their medication due to finances. This helps us as a parish to reach out to those beyond our doors, which is what the Gospel calls us to do,’ said Rev. Dr. Margaret Shepherd, pastor of the St. Andrew Episcopal Church.
To use the PAP, clients will need to obtain a prescription from their medical provider and then make an appointment with the PAP. The PAP staff and volunteers will help the client navigate through the requirements of the compassionate care programs to assist eligible clients obtain their medications. Clients will be charged a small administrative fee of $6 per prescription up to a maximum of $20 per visit to help offset the administrative costs of the program. “
Read the full article here.
(That’s a great idea, and I’m betting one that could be done in a number of other places around the country. Hopefully we’ll hear more about how the program operates as it matures.)
Speaking of providing medical care to people without insurance: there’s a story this week about St. Paul’s in Summerville North Carolina’s participation in a multi-denominational clinic hosted at the church that talks about how hard it is right now for people without insurance.
St. Stephen’s in Portland is holding their annual “Blessing of the bikes” this weekend, but adding a little more to help people mark the occasion:
This year, a poster has been commissioned which incorporates the Bike Shrine rosette. The design combines a number of elements, the white wheel of the “ghost bike”, rose petals for the City of Roses, a circle in a square which evokes a Buddhist mandala, a symbol of healing, which is a primary mission of St. Stephen’s church.
“We are all seekers, traveling a spiritual path” shared Mic Fleming, president of the congregation. “Our worship in the Episcopal church focuses around the healing power of God, as manifest in our sacraments, our community life, and the power of forgiveness in this broken world.”
Finally this week, there’s a story from Terjai California about the priest in a small Episcopal Church (St. Stephen’s), a former Camp director, who’s zooming around town on his motorcycle trying to talk the clergy of the other small congregations into creating a shared youth ministry:
“I believe it’s important to work together with smaller-sized churches to minister to the young people of our community,” Koch said. “We can do so much more together than we could alone.”
[…]Terry hopes getting three smaller churches together can pool enough resources for creating the critical mass that can really be a draw.
“Gilroy has some big churches that have great programs for their youth, but smaller churches have a message too,” he said. “We just have to be creative to get it out.”
[For instance]
“All middle school and high school youth are invited to Garbage Pizza Night. We will provide the dough, and the kids bring anything they are willing to eat on top of a pizza.”