Welcome to the LFCNA Region 8 web page.
Allow us to introduce ourselves.

If you have news to share from your Synod or Network, let us know so we can post.

Ruth Manchester originally hails from Minnesota, and after taking her nurses training at Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, MN and obtaining a BSN at the University of Minnesota, she then moved to the Washington, DC area. She has been a paid Parish Nurse at Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD for the past 25 years. In this capacity, she is in charge of Caring Ministries, Social Ministry, and the one-to-one caring that a Parish Nurse does. She has an MA in art history from the University of Maryland, so combines her love of art with Parish Nursing. She is wife to Paul, mom to Sarah and Dan and “Grandma” to Raina, Alden, Evan, and Aaron. She serves on the LFCNA Membership and Outreach Committees.

Marilee Tollefson is from South Dakota, has a BSN from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, during which time she joined the Army Student Nurse Program, and was on active duty for 27 years. During that time she earned her MSN from the University of Colorado, and upon retirement from the Army Nurse Corps, worked at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, DC. She is currently paid staff faith community nurse at Lutheran Church of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, MD for the past 25 years, coordinating care teams, serving as staff liaison to Social Ministry, and supporting many volunteers on the Health and Wellness Teams.  Marilee is married to Luther, has two daughters, Sara and Mari Liv and is “Mimi” to Lauren, Eric, and Emery. She serves on the Membership, Outreach, and Grants Committees for the organization. 

Margie Kay received her AA Nursing Degree in 1975 from Montgomery College. Upon graduation she participated in a Nursing Internship at the University of Alabama Medical Center In Birmingham Alabama. In 1994 she became a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and in 1996, completed the Certification Course to become a Faith Community Nurse. Most of Margie's Nursing career has been focused on Maternal/Child and Community Education which was hospital based here in the Baltimore area.

She has served as a volunteer Faith Community Nurse at three congregations, and currently serves as the chair of the Health Ministry Team and Congregation Care Committee for St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lutherville, Maryland. For several years she was an instructor for Faith Community Nurse course at Franklin Square Medical Center. Margie has been an member of LFCNA for several years and is a member of the Education Committee. Besides active ministry at her home church, she also volunteers weekly at her neighborhood elementary school providing clerical support for the 3^rd and 5^th grade faculty.

All three Parish/Faith Community Nurses were members of the Holy Cross Hospital network of Faith Community Nurses. Holy Cross now has a Faith Health Network that includes connecting with Faith Community Nurses and others.

Immigration Resources and Information provided by the 
Food Security Support Coordinator, Montgomery Co, MD

Based on our recent conversations with food assistance providers and other community organizations, we would like to share our updated Know Your Rights and Immigration Resources two-pager, which contains relevant information for legal and immigration services. Additionally, we have included a Protocol for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Visits created by the Harvest Intercontinental Hub. We are grateful to Harvest Intercontinental and their team for sharing this valuable resource, and we hope it will be helpful in supporting providers as they develop their own plans.

Margie Kay at the MD-DE Synod Assembly 2026

Workshops and Educational Programs 

Upcoming Workshops

Events | Trinity Health System (holycrosshealth.org)

Lock and TALK Virginia provides services and materials designed to promote safe and responsible care of guns, medication, and other lethal means.  www.lockandtalk.org

Mental Health First Aid USA is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.   

www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

https://www.mhamd.org/what-we-do/training/mental-health-first-aid-maryland/

In Maryland, finding effective mental health treatment centers is crucial for individuals grappling with various mental health disorders. From teenagers to senior citizens, these centers offer comprehensive support for men and women facing conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and dual diagnosis. Whether you're in Baltimore, Annapolis, or Rockville, mental health treatment centers in Maryland provide tailored programs for adolescents, adults, and seniors. These facilities offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment options, ensuring flexibility in care. Inpatient programs, which typically last a few weeks, provide immersive support for severe cases, while outpatient options allow individuals to attend therapy sessions while continuing with daily life.

www.mentalhealthcenters.net

NAMI Montgomery County, Maryland