The theme for today is: The Hospital and the Church.

Lord willing, Zach leaves Foothills Medical Center on Monday, February 10. From the hospital to continuing care. Bittersweet.

We’ll miss Foothills. It became home. A loving and caring home. Compassionate nurses, loving care assistants, dedicated therapists, and a committed care team. We thank them all from the bottom of our hearts. They loved Zach so much. It showed in words and in action. And not just to Zach, but to all the patients in their care.

For many patients, the hospital becomes home. A home hard to leave. Because it’s a place of care. All kinds of care. Medical care. Emergency care. Intensive care. Urgent care. Acute care. Chronic care. Trauma care. Continuing care. All kinds of health care. And there are care workers, care givers and care assistants to provide all that care. Hospital is home to many. A place of care. 24-7 care.

The church should be like a hospital. Home. A place of care. Care and support for the vulnerable. Care and support for the weak. A place of restoration and recovery. A place of community and connection. A place of check ins and check ups. A place for patients. Sick patients. Sick patients who recognize their need for a Saviour. Who recognize their need for Jesus.

Jesus is head of the church. Head of the church that shares hope. Head of the church that provides help. Head of the church that gives healing. Healing for the body. Healing for the soul. Healing for sick patients.

The church should be a loving and caring home. Compassionate pastors, loving elders, dedicated deacons, and committed members. Loving in words and in action. And not just to a few but to all the “sick patients” that “live in the home.”

The hospital and the church. What would we do without them? Our communities need hospitals. If the local hospital would suddenly vanish, what would our communities miss? Care. The impact would be devastating. Our communities need the church. If the church would suddenly vanish, what would our communities miss?

Today’s Updates:

This week was Zach’s last week at Foothills Hospital, as Lord willing Zach will move to his new home in AgeCare Seton on Monday. Zach will be picked up at 9am by a nonemergency ambulance and taken to the home. Please pray that all will go well with the preparation and the moving day.

Zach had another good week this week. He was in mainly in a playful mood, playing with pillows, balls, or beanbags, and laughing at his reflection in the mirror. Zach did have a few moments of brief agitation later in the week, but it did not affect his mood overall. Please pray that God will give  Zach more fun weeks in the future.

Zach has been eating well, but still not drinking. He’s slept in a few days, but has kept up good energy through the rest of the day. Zach only had a couple therapies this week, so he spent his free time exploring the hospital and saying goodbye to the staff on his current unit.

Please pray for Zach’s transition to his new home, and also that God will grant Zach new positive connections and regular visitors at AgeCare Seton . Praise God who has carried us this far and continues to bless us every day.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

(Mark 2:17)

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

(James 5:13-16)