On the evening of January 23rd, I sat down with 28 other leaders in Amador County to discuss mental health issues in our community. For those on Medical, the mental health resources are fair, with access to a full-time psychiatrist. However, if you have Medicare insurance or even private insurance, you will have to go outside the county to be treated for a psychiatric emergency. This is because Sutter Amador Hospital does not have emergency psychiatric personnel on staff nor does it have mental health beds. This poverty of resources adversely impacts our emergency room which is unprepared to properly respond to mental health emergencies.
This is just one of the challenges facing our community at large. Even though we have an aging population, our county does not have a dialysis unit, a cardiac rehab center, or a chemo center. What are we to do? Well, we roll up our sleeves and become a more powerful force in the community, helping in accordance with our gifts and resources. Maybe we can help make a difference in new and vital ways. Service to others is one of the ways we can share the good news of Christ with the world.
Years ago, Trinity Church created the Inter-faith Foodbank in response to those in our county who were struggling to make ends meet. It donated the Thrift Store to support this initiative. These were acts of compassion, showing a real concern for our larger community. This precedence of being an active and visible presence in Amador County is still being emphasized with new initiatives such as Missio:Engage, the Charter for Compassion, Breaking Bread with Friends, and our ESL offerings on Thursday evenings. At our annual meeting this year, we celebrated and recognized the many ministries that are reaching out to the larger community as well as serving our own parishioners.
At the beginning of the month, there was "the Rector's Open House" for the folks at Trinity to enjoy one another. 20% of those who came were people in the local neighborhood who thoroughly enjoyed themselves because of your reaching out with kind words and hospitality. This month, the Health Ministries' Board (under the leadership of Carolyn Hennings) met with over 16 folks who either agreed to help out or lead our health ministry activities. The Charter for Compassion team put on a public forum in Jackson as it launched the Charter in Amador County.
So what is on the docket for next month? The Missio:Engage team is sponsoring a food-drive at Safeway on Feb. 7th and 8th. If you would like to help out, there is a sign-up sheet in the narthex. The Charter for Compassion team is sponsoring a public forum at the Sutter Creek Community Center on February 13th at 6:30 pm. Please join us for a short presentation.
I am deeply touched by the care and concern you show for one another. Jesus said: " This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one' life for one's friends." {Jn. 15:12} My God continue to give us the grace to grow in love so that we may remain a shining Light to our Amador Community.
Pastor Karen Siegfriedt+
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Did You Know?
- Our newly elected vestry members are: Keith Sweet, Rosalie Escamilla, Nancy Moore, and Carol Holt. Joe Mock will continue as clerk, Carol Holt as treasurer, John Lafferty as Jr. Warden, and Sarah Hart as senior warden. Margaret Lewis and Don Snell are the other members who bless our leadership team.
- Our newly elected convention delegates are: Carol Holt, Margaret Lewis, Noreen Lafferty, and Janet Kendig
- Jane McClusky died peacefully last week. A memorial service will be held in February when her children are able to gather.
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