Lana Wingate- Parish Nurse

Lana Wingate- Parish Nurse

It doesn't take long in a conversation

 with Lana to hear her deep passion

 to serve others as a parish nurse.

She has recently secured 

a grant for gathering parish nurses

 in the 35th District- (the SED)

for a day of equipping and encouragement.

They will learn about Visual faith 

and how these tools might impact

 multiple areas of ministry.

A bit about Lana:

She is blessed with the gift of 56 years of marriage and has 2 children and 2 fantastic grandchildren. She believes that grandchildren make up for raising their parents.

Lana has been a nurse for 55 years, with most of her career in Gerontology. The past 20 years she has been serving as a geriatric care manager. This was great fun.  

In 1992, the government began creating a health care program for the country. She thought churches could be helpful with the task

of health care for their congregational members. She believed that churches could be helpful to guide their people to the appropriate health care. Maybe even set up clinics in their buildings.  

Who's trained to do that? NURSES!  

So she planned to become a parish nurse after retirement, with the time needed then for that effort. She attended Shenandoah University for parish nurse training. Then moved to Williamsburg, Va. and joined a church. 

The minister told her that he did not want a parish nurse

and to not talk about it again! So- they joined a Lutheran Church 

and the pastor told her she was the parish nurse- before they joined!

Lana has been the parish nurse at King of Glory Lutheran Church,

in Williamsburg, Virginia, for the past six years. 

Many experiences have taught her a lot. Parish nurses have a variety of job descriptions-depending on the needs of each individual church.

Lana has served as the 35th District Parish Nurse Representative

or the LCMS for most of the time she has worked as a parish nurse. There are 19 nurses in our district and she strives to keep in touch

with them on a regular basis. The Synod gave each district $2,000 

to have a conference for the parish nurses. This is a first and each leader began to plan the best use of their grants. It is a challenge to gather because the nurses live in such scattered areas in the district.

 But on December 8, 2016 there is a conference to network.

The presenter is Connie Denninger, wife of Rev. Dr. John Denninger, the President of the Southeastern District.

We will learn about connecting Visual Faith tools with our congregations and ministry needs.

Contact Lana if you did not get an invite to attend as a Parish Nurse. There is a wonderful set of teaching tools for each person attending!

A Gathering of the Parish Nurses

 of the 35^th District of the Missouri Synod

EXPLORING A VISUAL FAITH MINISTRY

Presented by 

Constance Denninger

Visual Faith Coach

On December 8, 2016

10 am until 2pm

Southeastern District Office, LCMS

6315 Grovedale Drive

Alexandria, Virginia 22310

Contact Lana Wingate if you are able to attend!

lana.wingate@cox.net


Thanks Lana for your efforts to connect, 
equip and encourage the parish nurses
 in the Southeastern District!

The Annunciation

The ANNUNCIATION

Luke 1:26-38

Advent is a now and not yet time—
waiting for the Christ Child,
 knowing he is here among us already,
 and believing he will come again. 
Mary’s willingness, anticipation and celebration 
of Gabriel’s announcement 
create the pregnancy of Advent.
 I feel like she envelops the whole cosmic picture
 even as she sees the immediate needs of her calling.
 I love the way theologian Richard Rohr 
paraphrases Mary’s response to Gabriel’s news:

 “I’m in. Let’s do it.”

Artists have loved to depict the Annunciation, 
and these three images show 
imaginative treatments of it,
 each capturing kairos
or Spirit time in a unique way.

Henry Tanner’s 1898 painting shows Mary

 calmly encountering the magnificent, 

glowing presence of Gabriel.

 No fear;
 rather quiet confidence in what’s to come. 

Contemporary artist John Collier paints Mary
 in socks and saddle shoes, 
engrossed in reading Scripture, 
while Gabriel respectfully waits for her
 to accept his astonishing message. 
Time is suspended as classic Roman columns

 sit next to a mid-Century suburban tract home. 

Seventeenth Century Italian artist Guercino’s 

(full name-Giovanni Francesco Barber)
 airy use of brown washes 
creates a sense of space and light. 

The sketch was probably a 
preliminary drawing for a painting,
 since Gabriel has five hands. 

A print of this drawing hangs in our living room,

 and I like to think that all the hands,

 as Gabriel excitedly relates God’s news to Mary,

 show how human anatomy
 is supplanted by God’s plans.

 Kind of like the incarnation.

To do: What would your kitchen look
 like with Mary and Gabriel sitting at the table talking? 
Coffee and bagels, too?
 Try a sketch. 
And Here is a something to print and color too.

Creative Communications for the Parish- Sally Beck

The pdf of the this post is available for printing here:
Annunciation Devotion 
The pdf for coloring the Annunciation is available here:
Annunciation Coloring page

Thank you to artist Sally Beck 
for her contribution of this post. 

Emily Ransdell- Faith Confirmation Project

EMILY RANSDELL-

 St John's Dover, Delaware

Emily recently shared her Faith project 

with members and guests at her home church

 of St. John's Lutheran Church in Dover, Delaware.

On confirmation weekend-

other students in the program

 are encouraged to share a 

piece of the journey of their story.

Show and tell-

about Bible Journaling 

The Display information answered 

some basic questions about 

Emily's Visual Faith practice.

She uses some color coding 

for her time reading Scripture.

This is Emily's Inspire Bible.

It has some images in the margins

 that are all ready to add coloring.

Emily shares a bit about her journey.

"The act of coloring helps me to pay attention.

This practice has helped me
 to feel closer to God,

and strengthen my faith.

I find that I simply 

think about God more."

To encourage others to try

 Bible Journaling Emily says:

"don't add pressure on yourself,

because nothing is perfect.

And it can bring such JOY!"

Emily is encouraged by both of her parents
 to explore Visual faith expression.

 Her father  (and pastor)  is Rev. CJ. Ransdell.

 He has been a Visual Faith encourager since he began ministry.

Mom- Melinda is a graphic designer and serves as a Visual Faith Coach.

A Gathering of the Saints

All Saints Day Banners

A bit of the story shared by Artist Sally Beck:

These banners were created by the saints

 at King of Glory Lutheran Church

 in Williamsburg,Virginia.

 This collaborative Visual Art project 

was designed for celebrating All Saints Day

 on Sunday, November 6.

They might inspire Bible journaling

 or other Visual Faith projects.  

King of Glory members cut out crosses

 for themselves and for saints who have gone before, 

and then three people-
Cathy Reck, Linda Martin and Sally Beck
assembled the banners.

Here's the explanation:

All Saints Day Banners  

 The crosses and shapes on the banners 

represent the huge crowd of saints 

who bear witness to the life

 of faith in Christ Jesus. 

(Hebrews 12:1) 

The saints who have gone before 

and the saints still on earth 

all walk in the light of the Lamb,

 and the center banner depicts 

the living water of the river of life

 in which those on earth 

renew their baptisms daily. 

(Revelation 22:1) 

The endurance necessary to run the race 

and enter eternal life 

comes from God’s gift of faith, 

and the saints (that’s us!) 

encourage, build up and cheer each other on.

 (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The myriad angels raise their song;

O saints sing with that happy throng!

Lift up one voice; Let heaven rejoice

In our Redeemer’s song!                        

 Behold a Host Arrayed in White

Thanks to Sally Beck- Journeys of Faith

contributing writer.