Community Healers

Thanks to Christa Meland for writing up this Great Idea from Daphne Soleil of Christ UMC in Rochester.

As a nurse, Daphne Soleil appreciate that health care workers are the “heroes of the pandemic” and decided to find a way to care for therm. Her congregation, Christ UMC, is directly across the street from Mayo Clinic, “so health care workers are a key part of the church’s community and mission field”.

This Great Idea isn’t just for churches with buildings in similar proximity to hospitals and healing centers, though. Just about every community has people who work in health care, senior care, or vulnerable adult assistance. You can adapt many of the ideas generated by Soleil and her “Community Healers” team to care for the pandemic heroes of your community.

Christ UMC’s Community Healers team developed prayer circles to remind health care workers that they are not alone and that they can turn to God with their worries; a how to love a healer document to share with their entire congregation (and now, everyone!), an outdoor healing space for all community members, and an inter-religious healing service.

Get inspired for reaching out to pandemic heroes in your own community by reading more.