Directors:

Getting to Know Your Directors

Phyllis Bruce

I graduated from North Park College (now University) and Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, IL.  Following graduation I worked in ICU at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, then became a Clinical Nursing Instructor  in the same ICU.  I found I really enjoyed working with nursing students, but following the birth of my two sons, it was more practical to work on weekends as a staff nurse.  I continued to work in ICU and CCU at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital and eventually was hired as Nursing Instructor for the Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing.  I also attended graduate courses in Allied Health Education at the University of St. Thomas, achieving a MA in Education.  When this 3 year program closed  I was able to find a teaching position at The College of St. Catherine, Minneapolis Campus, a two year nursing program.  I taught there for 14 years before retiring from education accepting a paid position at 20 hours a week with benefits at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis.  I had felt God's call into parish nursing and have been blessed in so many ways by those I had the privilege to teach, help, minister to, and advocate for, during my 9 years there.   I had found my true calling and my true self during this time.  As others have said, “This was the frosting on the cake, of a fulfilling career.” 

Following retirement of my paid position, I continued to serve as unpaid parish nurse in my church and have enjoyed serving on the Region 3 and National Boards of the ELPNA.  I fully believe that every church should have a parish nurse on staff, and I support the ELPNA as we work toward making this happen. We do this by providing grants for taking Faith Community Foundation courses, starting Health Ministries, working with the leaders of the ELCA and other Lutheran churches and seminaries, and providing resources, information, and support through our ELPNA.org website and Newsletters. 

As National Membership Chair, I thank you all for your support and hope that you will continue to be not only a paid member, but an active member.  We need you to be willing to be part of the National Board, to be on committees, and keep working in your own churches and Synods to promote parish nursing. 

Marie Weigert

I received my Master’s Degree in Transcultural and Community Health Nursing from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN.  For my masters project, I developed a nursing model using Jean Watson's Nursing Theory on Caring.  This included the various aspects of the theory and parish nurse functions. I was able to find stories from the members using all parts of the theory, and parish nurse functions.

I have been the chair of the Health Ministry at my church for several years.  We have arranged CPR/AED classes on the odd numbered years for the staff, and also congregational members.  Some of the classes for Adult Education that I have taught are “Living Well”, Healing Oils of the Bible, Making Your Home Healthy, Removing Toxins, and co-presented “What is Parish Nursing".

During the week, the Augsburg Central Health Commons uses one of the Sunday school rooms for those who are homeless and the working poor to receive basic health care.  Advanced nursing students from Augsburg University come to complete some of their practicum hours.

Ellen Ellickson

I began my nursing career in the Navy Nurse Corps during the Viet Nam war era.  I was stationed at the Navy Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.  After leaving the Navy, I received a Maste's in Gerontological Nursing from the University of Maryland and worked in long term care for years.  Eventually I also received a nurse practitioner certificate from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and worked in the prison system as a nurse practitioner. We moved back to Minnesota in 2000 and I taught nursing at College of St Benedict in Collegeville, MN. When I retired from teaching, I began a ministry of faith community nursing at Peace Lutheran in Cold Spring, MN.  I was parish nurse there for 12 years. When I left Peace Lutheran in 2022, my pastor gave me a t-shirt which said: With Jesus in her heart and stethoscope in hand, she is unstoppable!   

We moved to Northfield, MN in June of 2022, and now I am a member of Saint John’s Lutheran Church. It is a wonderful church – open and affirming, two pastors both fabulous preachers and the music is spectacular. 

The most meaningful part of faith community nursing for me was looking around the congregation on a Sunday morning and realizing I had interacted with at least ¾ of the members at one time or another in a moment of need.

My life has changed a lot since moving off our hobby farm and moving into retirement housing.  For 20 years we lived in the country and rescued animals – we had English Springer Spaniels and I rescued over 300 cats.  Now I enjoy being part of this close community – people here are old – I think the median age is probably 90?  That’s just a guess, but they all have interesting stories.  And I have not given up my animal rescue mission.  My elderly cat just died and I started making plans to get another cat from the local humane society. Our housing facility has a requirement that a cat must be declawed.  I gathered research including the recommendation from the local veterinary practice and the contract from the local humane society where you must promise to not have a cat declawed.  I went to administration, explained my concern and they have changed their policy to: “nails must be close trimmed by a veterinarian.”  It was a win for all cats, not just my new very nice kitty, Fancy.

Information Request

We would like to identify all Lutheran parish nurses working in congregations of Region 3.  Please send an e-mail with your information to Phyllis Bruce..  Her contact information is in the Board Directory found in the Members Only section of this web site.  That way we can keep an updated list of Lutheran parish nurses in this region.

Funds are available to provide displays for synod meetings if you are interested in presenting the concept of parish nursing to groups within your synod.  Please let us know how we can help.

2024 meetings: September 18, November 14

Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm via Zoom

Topics of discussion will be posted and sent with the zoom link prior to the meeting.

  Lydia Anna Volz Obituary 

Lydia Anna Volz passed to life eternal on February 11, 2024, at the age of 91. The daughter of missionaries to India, Lydia dedicated her life to serving others as the loving wife of Carl Volz, devoted mother of five children, a faithful member of Jehovah Lutheran Church, a geriatric nurse at Lyngblomsten, Trevilla, and Bethesda care centers, a parish nurse for Roseville Lutheran Church and Luther Seminary, a stalwart supporter of the Valpo Guild and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, an honorary deaconess, an avid member of numerous choirs, a prolific gardener, and a skilled artist.

Lydia was preceded in death by her husband, Carl in 1998, her parents, Clarence and Emma Rittmann, and her siblings, Dorothy Ommen and John Rittmann. She is survived by her siblings, Clara Mueller and Joseph Rittmann; her children, Carol (Mark) Mattes, Martin (Sue) Volz, Stephen Volz, Katherine (David) Finegan and Michael (Yong) Volz; ten grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will take place on March 16, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., preceded by a visitation at 10:00 a.m. and followed by a luncheon, at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in St. Paul, MN. There will also be a presentation from the Nurse Honor Guard just prior to the service in the sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to either Jehovah Lutheran Church (https://www.jehovahlutheran.org/contribute/) or to the Volz Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at Luther Seminary https://www.luthersem.edu/giving/give/.

FCN Activities 

Sharing programs and activities  that are sponsored by the FCNs and Heath Committees that are helpful, reach out to the community, and fun!!

Renee Compo and Marie Wiegert at the Minneapolis Synod in May 2023

Judi Schwerin from Sioux Falls and Cindy Kinzley from Rapid City at the SD Synod Assembly. May 2024

Education Opportunities in Region 3

Registration is now open for the Faith Community Nurse Network's 2024 symposiums:  https://www.fcnntc.org/education/continuing-education-symposiums/! While our symposiums feature topics relevant to FCN practice, all are welcome to attend.

In faith and gratitude,

FCNN Staff

Dementia Friendly Worship opportunities

We are excited to announce that St. Odilia in Shoreview and St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake will now have alternating monthly Dementia Friendly Mass on select Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.

These faith communities have dedicated time and been trained by Lyngblomsten Community Services to offer a way for those with dementia and their care partners to be able to worship without stress, to fill their spiritual needs.

These worship services are short to fit the needs of those living with dementia. They also include a social time with resources afterwards. These are intended to be shame free, confidential spaces.

Studies have shown how important worship and spiritual time is for people living with dementia and can reduce stress for both the person and their care partner. How beautiful is that?!

Click here for the information flyer

Sincerely and in appreciation of collaboration,

Carolyn Klaver, RN

Community Dementia Care Specialist

& Resource Coordinator to Churches

Lyngblomsten Community Services

Networking Opportunities

Faith Community Nurse Education Collaborative Facebook 

Coordinators of faith community nurse groups across Minnesota are working together to create a clearinghouse of continuing education offerings. The Faith Community Nurse Education Collaborative Facebook group is a place for FCNs to discover educational opportunities of interest. This group is also open to RNs interested in faith community nursing. You will find information on Foundations of Faith Community Nursing courses, symposiums, and other programs that offer contact hours.

Check it out, find upcoming events, and request to join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fcneducationcollaborative