Smoky Hill UMC Abundant Health Kick-Off Sunday

By Jana Jones, MSC Abundant Health Coordinator

Smoky Hill UMC has had an Abundant Health team for about a year, but due to the pandemic, had not had the opportunity to present itself to the congregation in a formal way. On Sunday, November 28th, that opportunity arrived! 

Our Children’s ministry coordinator, Chrystal Duncan started the conversation during Children’s Time. She asked them about what healthy foods could be in their packed lunch for food, then invited them (and the adults in the sanctuary) to get up and stretch like a giraffe, hop like a frog, and stand like a flamingo.  (The kids did a better job!)



 

Jana Jones spoke about what the Abundant Health team has been doing, including offering a Zoom exercise class 3-4 times a week. We have been offering monthly news items in the electronic newsletters, lifting up the health of mind, body, and spirit. We helped organize a family field day with Family Ministries. We challenged members to bring healthy foods to our Fall Pot Luck. A member has organized our medical equipment lending program. Several of us took an 8-week course through the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Network to help us organize ways to encourage health and bring resources to our congregation.  

Following our second service, members were invited to join us outside where we served them healthy yogurt parfaits and officially dedicated our new Prayer Labyrinth. The labyrinth was an inspiration of the team to support Spiritual health and was made possible through the efforts of our trustee committee, and Archer Goodman, Boy Scout Troop #113, who put it into reality as part of his Eagle Scout Project. Rev. Derek DeToni-Hill dedicated the Prayer Labyrinth, encouraging us to use it often as part of our Spiritual Journey.

We’ve asked our congregation to give us ideas of what they, personally need to support their health in Mind, Body, and Spirit. They are writing these ideas on small cards and putting them in the Abundant Health suggestion box.  Using their suggestions, we hope to expand the health of Smoky Hill UMC and our community during the pandemic and beyond.  

Would you like to learn more about how you and your congregational can explore Abundant Health in 2022? Take a peek at the Mountain Sky Conference Abundant Health webpage or contact Jana Jones at