Resurrection Installs New Parish Nurse

by Janice Lamback

Pastor Jeff Browning, Lloyd and LInda Wardley, and Pastor Bill Harmon took part in the official installation of Mrs. Wardley as Parish Nurse at Resur-rection Lutheran Church recently. Just what is a parish nurse? One's pre-conceived notions of a nurse-in-white who attends swooning parishioners during Sunday sermons or funerals are quickly disseminated upon meeting Linda Wardley, Parish Nurse of The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.

As an extension of the church itself, hers is a wellness ministry of holistic proportions-taking into account the whole person-body, mind and spirit. It is a ministry that extends way beyond the Sunday sermon. Mrs. Wardley's richly involved life of service in education, and as health counselor, community liaison and outreach coordinator is a seven-day-a-week com-mitment. Although she admits, the duties are so diversified that "Different days mean different things."

Born and bred a Lutheran to Resurrection's iconic Dettling family (her brother Ed is the Music Director), she too praises her parents Ed Dettling Sr. and Marion for encouraging her musical studies and her endeavor to go into nursing. At St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated, one is taught to respect all beliefs-to administer compassion and medicine-not ministry. That is in direct contrast to the training one receives to become a parish nurse-where religion and spiritual care play such a large component to healing.

Linda Wardley, Perline Ramalanjaona and Maria Lundquist are ready to take blood pressures of parishioners who want to monitor their blood pressures. Religion and the church are at the center of Mrs. Wardley's life and the busy lives of her devoted family. She met her husband, Lloyd in church and in fact were confirmed together. Lloyd and Linda were married and celebrated their 30th anniversary last year. They are proud parents of Douglas, Heather, Daniel and Allison. Their eldest daughter, Heather is married to second year seminarian, Emil Gretarsson whom she met while attending Resurrection. Lloyd is a former presi-dent (twice elected) of the council of Resurrection and is currently active on the Buildings and Grounds Committee of LUHI.

And as if her parish nurse duties weren't enough, Mrs. Wardley is also the pre-school music teacher at Resurrection where she finds she can often bridge health and music-for example, teaching children how to properly wash their hands with a rhythmic clapping song.

Linda always integrates compassion with thoughtfulness when coordinating volunteers in any outreach capacity-whether it's delivering altar flowers and well wishes to congregants in the hospital, shut-ins or nursing homes; administering blood pressure readings to congregants after church; coordinating meals for hospital-released-convalescents, new mothers and their babies or the ill at home; or writing and teaching health information.

The new year may just be getting started, but Mrs. Wardley has already resolved to present:

• Two Blood Drives a year and expand this by getting volunteers to reach out to others in need

• A Health Fair, involving local hospitals to follow-up

• A Diet and Exercise Program

• Stress Management-during the education hour on Sunday

With her genuine empathy, quick intelligence and modest attitude, Linda Wardley is a woman any parish would be fortunate to have on their side. As a result-if she has anything to do with it-Resurrection will have an exceptional year of health, healing and wholeness.

Resurrection is a multi-site Christian community of faith. All are invited to worship at 5:30 PM on Saturdays and at 8:30 and 11 AM Sunday morn-ings, with Christian Education at 9:45 AM at the 420 Stewart Avenue location in Garden City. For more information, please visit www.resgc.org or call 746.4426.