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Summer 2017 Volume 8, Issue 2
In this issue:
1 Greetings from Wendell Oman
1 Grace Notes
2 Social media can trigger stress
2 Smartphone addiction
3 Hospice Corner
4 The colors of summer
4 Campfire danger awareness
4 Summer prayer
5 Summer foods – the best time for fresh is now!
Office for Mission & Spiritual Care
The Office for Mission & Spiritual Care provides spiritual care for patients, their families and associates 24 hours a day every day of the year. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To contact us, call 708.684.5175. Evenings and weekends, ask for the paging operator and request #7729 for the house chaplain or #2299 for the emergency department chaplain.
Bridges to Our Faith CommunitiesConnections
Also in this issue: News from
Advocate Children’s Hospital
Love all God's creation, the whole and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God's light.
Love the animals, love the plants, love everything.
If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.
Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
Grace Notes are readings, poems or quotes from a variety of faith traditions and writers. Each reflection tries to touch on the heart of being human in this world. To receive Grace Notes five or
seven days a week, please click here or contact [email protected] .
Grace Notes
Summer, smartphones and stress Summer is here and I sincerely hope that you and your congregation are enjoying it. As always, every season of the year we at Advocate Christ Medical Center continue to support and care for our local community by providing excellent health care to families and individuals.
This month, our Connections includes stories about two timely issues that don’t take a holiday in summer: smartphone addiction and how social media can lead to increased stress. While many people are well aware that stress levels are on the increase for everyone, these articles focus on the role that technology plays in this development. Both these issues impact clergy and laity and often require mindful approaches that incorporate changes in behavior as well as spiritual support and care.
In our issue’s section from Advocate Children’s Hospital, we focus on an important fire safety issue as well as how branding of processed food may impact children’s eating habits. We hope that this information is helpful to your faith community and may help you in developing policies that uphold and protect the health and well-being of all of your congregation’s members.
Please accept my best wishes for a safe and happy summer for your faith community and you. May you all enjoy these warm days in appreciation of God’s beautiful creation.
Rev. Wendell OmanVice President, Office for Mission & Spiritual Care
Connections - Advocate Christ Medical Center Office for Mission and Spiritual Care Summer 2017 - Page 2
Smartphone addiction As a faith leader you are probably used to, at the beginning of services, asking your congregation to turn off or silence their phones. Still, that may not prevent at least some congregants from sneaking looks at their phones during services.
While smartphones are convenient for staying in touch, for some people, they can become a problem. These individuals may use their phones so much that they lose focus at work, ignore or are distracted when with friends and family members or become anxious when they can’t use their phones.
Some health care professionals believe that smartphone use can become unhealthy. “Our use of smartphones is spiraling into addictions,” said Dr. Sudhir Gokhale, a psychiatrist with Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. “Humans are not just overusing their cell phones; the devices are beginning to interfere with their lives. Many people experience withdrawal symptoms when they
Social media can trigger stress The evidence is clear: Chronic stress has a negative impact on just about every area of our lives, including our relationships, job performance and health. Strangely, however, many people believe that being overworked and overcommitted, two major stress triggers, are actually signs of success.
It’s an odd phenomenon, one that has physicians and mental health professionals concerned. Adults who would never think of touting overeating, smoking or drinking as virtues will boast about their busy schedules. In return, they may get praise and admiration from friends, colleagues and social media contacts.
Some experts believe that widespread use of social media may be the culprit here. People are constantly updating their networks with pictures, status updates and “check-ins” that put their hectic lives on display, which contributes to the idea that over-scheduling is normal and admirable.
The trouble is that social media updates don’t give all the facts about people’s lives and how they are coping. Nor do they give details about an individual’s relationships with others.
In fact, it is well known that members of the clergy are particularly susceptible to chronic illnesses brought on by stress. If you check out your colleagues’ status updates and envy their successes, you may want to consider that they are just as stressed are as you are.
Raphael Parayao, an Emergency Department physician at Advocate Trinity Hospital notes:
“Life can be stressful enough without adding the additional pressures of keeping up with celebrities and the people you follow on social media.” This is an important message for faith leaders to
understand for themselves and to share with congregants.
If you are counseling a community member who is trying to keep up with Mr. and Mrs. Jones down the street, try suggesting a retreat or fast from social media. (You may want to try the same thing yourself if you are likewise always comparing yourself to Rev. Jones from seminary!)
Other options include providing guidance on spiritual practices, such as regular prayer, meditation and participation in worship activities. These can help us regain our center and make decisions about how to declutter busy schedules so that we have time for the activities and relationships that truly matter.
“Life can be stressful enough without adding the additional pressures of keeping up with celebrities and the people you
follow on social media.”
Don’t
boast about
stress!
It is wise to cease smartphone use at least an hour before bed.
See SMARTPHONE next page.
Connections - Advocate Christ Medical Center Office for Mission and Spiritual Care Summer 2017 - Page 3
Advocate Christ Medical Center 4440 West 95th Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453 708.684.8000
Staff Chaplains Refat Abukhdeir, Muslim Carla Banks, United Church of Christ Mary Anne Cannon, Roman Catholic Denise Duncan, United Church of Christ Fr. Casimir Eke, Roman Catholic Debra Hawkins, United Methodist Church Richard James, Southern Baptist Barbara Lawrence, American Baptist Sheila Reed, American Baptist David Safeblade, United Church of Christ Betty Vander Laan, Christian Reformed
Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisors Christy Howard-Steele, Christian, ACPE Supervisory Candidate Laura Kaufmann, Roman Catholic, ACPE Supervisor Angie Keith, Pentecostal, ACPE Supervisor
Chaplain Residents Julian A. Bond, Baptist Valerie D. Cheairs, Non-Denomination Solveiga Palionis, Roman Catholic Christine Salser, ELCA
Secretarial Staff Denetrice Theard-Sanders, 708.684.4189
Administrative Assistant II Jacquelyn Gordon, Coordinator, Faith Health Partnerships
Administrative Staff Corky DeBoer, Christian Reformed
Manager of Spiritual Services, ACPE Supervisor Wendell Oman, Evangelical Free Church of America
Vice-President, Mission & Spiritual Care
To subscribe to Connections, call 708.684.5175 or email [email protected] with your name and email address. You’ll receive an electronic edition of Connections every three months.
To continue receiving Connections, your email address must be current. Please inform us of any changes of email address or other contact information. Email [email protected] or call 708.684.5175.
Service of Remembrance Richard & Wilma Molenhouse Chapel
Advocate Christ Medical CenterOak Lawn
Sun., Aug. 13, 4 p.m.
A special memorial service will be held for the hospice and patient families of Advocate Christ Medical Center who have recently lost a loved one. Christ Mission & Spiritual Care and Advocate Hospice join together in leading this service of prayers and readings as a comfort for the families they serve. For more information, contact Penelope Gabriele at 630.829.1753.
The next service will be Nov. 12.
Hospice Cornertry to cut back, similar to the overuse of an addictive drug.”
Members of your faith community may express frustration or distress to you about their own smartphone use or that of friends or family members. It’s important to take this concern seriously, while also providing support and advice.
Some mental health professionals advise taking a “weaning” approach, during which one keeps the phone turned off or in another room for parts of the day. It is also wise to cease smartphone use at least an hour before bed, as exposure to a screen can disrupt sleep. Poor sleep, over time, can lead to a multitude of health problems, including impaired cognition, irritability and even weight gain.
As a faith leader, you can encourage members to be fully present during events and meetings by asking everyone to keep his or her phone tucked away during time together. In situations where a smartphone addiction seems to exist, referring the member to a mental health practitioner may be helpful.
If smartphone use is becoming addictive, try taking a time-out for relief.
SMARTPHONE continued.
Connections - Advocate Children’s Hospital Office for Mission and Spiritual Care Summer 2017 - Page 1
Summer prayerDear God,
You have created all things, including humankind. As caretakers of this earth, we seek your wisdom in learning to be good stewards of all of its bounty. Guide us through this season of summer as we
enjoy the warmth of the sun, the flowers in bloom and the clear, blue skies. Help us
remain grateful for all these gifts.
Amen
Dear Giver of Care,
The vivid colors of summer surround us. Our dinner plates look like rainbows! Peppers in green, red and yellow. Berries of blue and red. Lettuces of varying shades of green and even purple! Campfires, too, provide an amazing palette of gold, red and orange – as well as memories to cherish our whole lives.
This issue of Connections addresses some of the opportunities around summer eating and bonfires.
There is no better time of year to offer beautiful, fresh fruits and vegetables than summer. This is especially important because research indicates there is a correlation between a child’s ability to identify processed food brands and unhealthy eating habits. Read about that study and what you as a faith leader can do about it.
Campfires can be a tremendous amount of fun, but they also involve an element of danger. Please check out our article on campfire safety. It may be of particular interest to youth leaders and family minister coordinators.
While children enjoy their summer vacation, parents, caregivers and faith community leaders often find themselves busier than ever. Still, we at Advocate Children’s Hospital hope that you are able to take some time for yourself to enjoy the long days and warm weather.
As we move through this season of summer, please accept our wishes for a safe, restful season as we look to and prepare for fall.
Peace and blessings, Rev. Stacey Jutila, Vice President Mission & Spiritual Care
The colors of summer Campfire danger awareness
Campfires are a fun tradition in the summer and fall months. They can be the highlight of a family or faith community gathering and provide warmth and light for time spent together singing, talking and just being together.
To maximize everyone's good time, it's important to be aware of some potential dangers associated with bonfires and to take precautions against them:
Adult supervision is necessary. An adult should always be present at a campfire. Teens and kids, even very responsible ones, may not have the ability to think quickly in case the fire gets out of control.
Be able to extinguish a fire quickly. Have plenty of water on hand to extinguish the fire. Garden hoses work well for this purpose and should be tested beforehand to make sure that they work. Many people don't realize that embers can reignite a fire even after it has been put out. It's important to check the coals carefully to make sure that they've been thoroughly extinguished.
Drugs and alcohol increase danger. Parents and teens should be aware that the use of drugs and alcohol and campfires do not mix. Intoxicants can impair judgment, increasing the risk of injury and property damage. See CAMPFIRE next page.
Connections - Advocate Children’s Hospital Office for Mission and Spiritual Care Summer 2017 - Page 2
Summer foods – the best time for fresh is now! Summer fruits and vegetables can make a difference in a child’s life-long eating habits. Serving children fresh produce instead of manufactured, unhealthy foods is never easier than this time of year. Processed foods don’t have a chance next to fresh – a slice of
chilled watermelon, an ear of corn on the cob, a juicy, red tomato.
In a recent study, researchers found that children who are overweight were more likely to identify 10 popular processed food brands than children at a healthy weight. Items included
Pringles, Cap’n Crunch, Coca-Cola, M&M and other well-known brands.
There are, of course, many different factors that contribute to unhealthy eating and body weight. However, many dietitians believe that processed foods, with high levels of sugar, salt and fat, are a major contributor to diabetes, obesity
and heart problems. Children who develop a taste for these foods early in life may have difficulty
adopting healthier eating habits as they
grow older.
Dr. Vidhya Viswanathan, pediatric endocrinologist at Advocate Children’s Hospital expressed concern about this study: “Although this is a correlation and not a causation, it is important for parents to understand that exposing your children to processed, unhealthy foods at a young age can create poor eating habits and set the tone for an unhealthy lifestyle. It may be a red flag if your child is well-versed in brand logos on these unhealthy treats.”
As a faith leader, you have influence. Part of that influence may be over the foods that are served within your faith community. By suggesting healthy snacks and fresh, wholesome foods at summer events, you will reinforce the importance of good nutrition – as well as delicious fare.
Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn 4440 West 95th St., Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge 1675 Dempster St., Park Ridge, IL 60068
1.855.312.KIDS Staff:
Stacey Jutila, BCC, Vice President, Mission and Spiritual Care Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Carol Stephens, BCC, Staff Chaplain and Pediatric Bereavement Coordinator, United Church of Christ
Tracy Nolan, BCC, Staff Chaplain, United Church of Christ
Staycie Flint, BCC, Staff Chaplain, Episcopal Eliza Stoddard Leatherberry BCC, Staff
Chaplain, United Church of Christ Loretta Ransberg, BCC, Staff Chaplain and
Pediatric Bereavement Coordinator, MUM, MCS, Victory Apostolic Church
Megan Daley-Jones, Staff Chaplain, United Church of Christ
Administrative: Marybeth Schmalz, Administrative Assistant
Clear the area before starting the fire. Campfires should be started in open areas, far away from garages, fences and furniture. Turn your head skyward as well. Heat and flames rise, and telephone and power cords present a serious fire hazard.
Don't be tempted to use gasoline as a way to get your fire going. This accelerant can cause a fire to quickly get out of control, resulting in possible injuries and death.
As Dr. Steven Zahn, medical director of the emergency department and immediate care centers at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin notes:
“Being aware of your surroundings is one of the easiest ways to prevent bonfires from getting out of control. In other words, make sure a fire is controlled, use the appropriate equipment and don’t mix in things that really shouldn’t be burned.”
Offer them this:
Not this:
CAMPFIRE continued.
