Nurses: challenged and inspired
The first nurses' summer school brought together a dozen Chrsitian nurses to wrestle with the theological and professional core of nursing. The event was held at Tyndale House in Cambridge, coordinated by the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics. CMF's John Wyatt led us through detailed studies of the historyo of nursing and its roots int eh Christian faith. He then focused on the theology of nursing, and our understanding of personhood, humanity and the mission of God's people. The discussions that ensued continued throughout the day (and night) and left all with many challenges and much insporation.
Other events for nurses have included: a national joint conference with allied health professionals in Nottingham in March; a series of bimonthly 'Refreshmen Evenigns' for nuses and midwives (student and qualified) in London, and meetings with smaller groups of student nurses in London, Oxford, Cardiff and Guildford.
The enthusiasm among students to meet, pray and study the Bible and its relevance for their training and practice has been very encouraging. Also there are growing numbers of qualifed nurses wanting to support and encourage the students. We are hoping to build a wider network of volunteers to extend the work in the coming year, and are preparing for Freshers' Week events, as well as for a national conference for student nurses and midwives next year.
A Christmas carol service for medics in your area?
In 2011 CMF and CNM hosted a carol service at All Souls, Langham Place in London. the event attracted hundreds of guests from surrounding hospitals and clinics. If your church would like to host a carol service for local healthcare workers, contact the communications team at CMF for ready-made posters, invitation designs, and CMF promotional literature.
Saline solution
A hospital in Kent, a hall in Plymouth, a home in Keele and a church in Leeds: some of the places the Saline Solution course is being held this year for doctors, medical students and other health professionals. Saline Solution provokes discussion, inspires confidence, provides useful tools for your witness and creates an opportunity for fellwoship with Christian colleagues. To find out about a course near you, please contact Ruth Haley at CMF or see the website.
Healthcare Sunday
Most churches have at least one member who works in the NHS. Healthcare Sunday, 21 October, is an opportunity for your church to find out more about teh doctors, healthcare workers, students, lecturers, academics and trainerws in your congregation and local community.
Healthcare Sunday was set up over a decade ago as a way to help churches engage with health and medicine. For one Sunday every year we pray for, encoaurage and support those in the Church who work in healthcare, and remember all those working in local health institutions.
For resources to help your church mark Healthcare Sunday this autumn visit www.healthcaresunday.org.uk and contact CMF for brochures inviting members of your church to 'become a friend of CMF'.
Regional reports
London & South-East
Summer brings us into gardens. An afternoon tea for members and their families was enjoyed in Chorleywood recently. A similar event is planned in Eastbourne. A third local group has commenced in Hertfordshire, and the stimulation and encouragement of getting together for fellowship - not necessarily with any predetermined agenda - was a thrill to witness on an recent evening visit there.
North of England
Please give thanks for ongoing support for doctors in stressful situations, by phone and face to face. Also, for the enthusiasm for a new open house group in the Leeds Bradford area and the enthusiasm fo the York and Liverpool areea groups.
Please pray for more local groups to form; for the expansion of the doctors' spiritual appraisal service led by Anne and Dave Crick; for work with hospital chaplains and for all doctors who are moving into new posts this summer.
Our regional team members send out regular prayer letters. If you have not received your regional prayer letter, please contact Gwen Gowers at CMF.
PRIME
The Values Added programme designed by PRIME and CMF to help junior doctors express their faith in everyday practice, is now being launched across the UK. Aiming to help doctors develop a practical approach to Christ-like, whole person medicine, itpresents topics for discussion and exploration in a modular format that gives a flesxible structure for guided study. The programme also provides an oopportunity for fellowship and encouragement during a period of early professional life that can be both challenging and isolated.
We are seeking to link interested doctors in grades FY1 to ST2 with our growing number of facilitators, who are keen to host regular small-group meetings. Please visit www.values-added.org for information, including an outline of the first module.
Overseas, opportunities for PRIME increase, including requests from major international health organisations and institutions. If you are a medical or nurse teacher with academic crredibility, have a sense of calling to improve health globally, and are prepared to give your time freely, please contact us at www.prime-international.org
New Word Alive
CMF ran a lunchtime forum at New Word Alive this Easter - over 60 people came and were encouraged to meet other Christians in healthcare from all over the country. We would love to do more at other Christian festivals; do get in touch if you are going to one and could take some resources to share.
