Parish Nurse
Barbara Marlin
Nurse@faithelca.org |
Barbara Marlin the Parish Nurse at Faith obtained her RN degree through Black Hawk College. Barb and her husband Ted have two children, Daniel and Katie And two granddaughters. Barb enjoys spending time with family and friends, music, cross-stitching, and reading. Interests also include leading and attending Bible studies and small groups. In her role as parish nurse she makes home, hospital, and nursing home visits. In addition she is available for blood pressure checks most Sunday mornings and during the week as needed. |
Sermon CD's
If you or someone you know, may be interested in receiving copies of the sermon on CD please contact the Parish nurse. |
Dear Faith Family,
The other day I was at dinner with a friend who has been
going through a particularly challenging time in her life.
We have met from time to time, propping each other up
the past several months. She has listened to my anguish,
and I hers. As she spoke, I remembered reading an email
story, a devotion really, that I have kept and used in
small groups…. Maybe even a small group some of
you have been in. It’s a story about a butterfly, and I
thought perhaps I’d share it here.
“A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a
small opening appeared, and he sat and watched the
butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its
body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop
making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten
as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the
man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of
scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the
cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had
a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man
continued to watch the butterfly because he expected
that at any moment, the wings would enlarge and
expand to be able to support the body, which would
contract in time. Neither happened! In fact the butterfly
spent the rest of its life crawling around with a
swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was
able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste
did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and
the struggle required for the butterfly to get through
the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from
the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would
be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from
the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we
need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our
life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We
would not be as strong as what we could have been.
And we could never fly.”
As I listened to my friend, it was if I could see her
struggling against the cocoon in preparation for a release…
in preparation to FLY! And then I reflected on my
own life; not just my current stresses, but I remembered
some struggles of the past. “Why, God, can’t you
just make this easier!” I couldn’t see in the pain of
the struggle… I didn’t see until much later. Ah, but then,
as I sat there with my friend, I remembered times
that I felt like God allowed me to soar. And I knew
there would be times again!
That, I believe, is how God is working in YOUR
life too! As you shake your fist at life’s frustrations,
remember that God has a plan in the pain and struggle
to give you the strength to soar. I know, I know…
you can’t see it now. But some day you’ll be free
from the cocoon and as you begin to take flight,
I pray that God will fill you with joy unspeakable
and that you will be full of glory!
Peace, Love, Joy,
Barbara Marlin
Parish Nurse |
MINISTRIES OF THE PARISH NURSE
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KNITTERS
Knitters are making Prayer Shawls
for those in need in the congregation.
The group meets the last Tuesday of each month @ 1:00pm at the church.
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LAY VISITORS
Volunteers visit shut-ins and hospitalized members for the Parish nurse or Pastor as needed. Distribute sermon Cd's and give communion as needed. |
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HEALTH TASK FORCE
Purpose is to bring together individuals who have an interest in health/wellness with the goal of making decisions jointly involving the Parish Nurse Ministry. |
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FAITH KEEPERS
Long term illness support group for those who are ill or those who care for them. (example; diabetics, cancer, ALS, other disease processes) The goal is to provide fellowship and support with a Christian perspective to those in need. They meet the 1st Wednesday of each month at 4:00pm at the church. |
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SOUL FOOD
Provide meals to those who are very ill or recently discharged from the hospital with the goal of cooking and delivering meals to those that need them. |
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