Brotherly Love Ministry - Parish Nursing
Parish Nurse Hours Kim Vaupel, RN is available from 9:00 am to 10:15 am on Sunday mornings. If she can be of any assistance, please stop by her office in the Library in the Sunday School wing during that time, or call or text her any time at 484-223-7324.
Taking Blood Pressure Readings A new idea is to offer blood pressure screening for members of Grace and the community at the monthly Free Community meal. If you would like to take blood pressures for those attending the Free Community meal (the second Friday of each month from 5 pm to 6:30 pm), please contact Kim Vaupel.
WHERE TO FIND...
The AED (defibrillator) is mounted on the wall by the AED sign. There is an emergency supply kit and a diabetic emergency supply kit on the table next to the pew in the Chapel. If you enter the Chapel from the doorway in the hallway by the sanctuary, the table with the emergency care kits will be on your right. This is a more central location than the previous one in the event of an emergency. When you are next at church, please take a minute to locate the emergency equipment.
First Aid kits are in all restrooms and the Sunday School classroom. There is also a first aid kit in the rear of the sanctuary on a table below the bulletin board, and in the kitchen on the counter in Fellowship Hall (downstairs). Feminine hygiene products are available in all restrooms except for the Men’s restroom in the Sunday School wing.
The Brotherly Love Ministry/Parish Nurse bulletin board is by the front ramp entrance.
May Newsletter
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Are you in need of help or support? You are not alone! If you or someone you know are struggling with mental health, there are national and local resources available.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - connect for free with a NAMI HelpLine specialist or a Teen & Young Adult HelpLine specialist today. These lines are available Monday Through Friday, 10 am – 10 pm Eastern.
NAMI HelpLine - Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), chat, text “HelpLine” to 62640 or email us at helpline@nami.org
NAMI Teen and Young Adult HelpLine - Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), chat, text “Friend” to 62640 or email us at helpline@nami.org connect with us.
NAMI Lehigh Valley Resources are listed at nami-lv.org/crisis-info
Find Help in a Crisis - Text HOME to 741-741 and connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - The 988 Lifeline provides confidential and free support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Available 24/7. Call or Text.
May peace and good health be with all of you!
Kim Vaupel, RN
History: In September 2023, a new ministry was started at Grace Lutheran Church. The goal of this ministry is to promote the health, wellness and safety of the members of Grace and the community. Brotherly Love Ministry was named in honor of my brother Leonard Sterner, Jr. who passed away unexpectedly in September 2019. Since my brother was proud that his sister was a nurse, I have decided to use the memorial donations given to Grace in his name to start this parish nursing ministry. This memorial fund was used to pay for the classes I needed to take in order to obtain a certification in faith community/parish nursing, and also to attend a lay eucharistic communion class. After this, I will be available to assist Pastor Samantha with visiting the homebound and ill of the congregation. I will also be a resource to the congregation to answer any medical questions and offer support to the congregation as needed.
Next I will be updating the church first aid kits, and will create a kit for use in case of a medical emergency which will include a blood pressure cuff, a glucometer to check blood sugars, snacks to treat low blood sugar, and a pulse oximeter to check oxygen levels. I am also asking for anyone certified in CPR to contact me at the number below, as I will be creating a list of those members certified in CPR. I plan to coordinate a one-hour class taught by the Macungie Ambulance team to teach “hands on CPR for the community” to anyone interested in learning this skill.
On a monthly basis, I will be speaking to the congregation about how to prepare in the event of medical emergencies, fire emergencies and gun violence emergencies. My goal is to raise awareness and prepare the congregation for these different emergency situations, and be available to the members of Grace as your parish nurse. I look forward to sharing information with all of you in my monthly newsletter column in the Grace Notes monthly newsletter, and here on this website.
Peace be with all of you!
Kim Vaupel, RN
