Supporting Kessler4Methodist

by Rev. Eric Folkerth

Friends,

Last week, I shared with you how we are restarting “Kessler4Methodist.”  I want to follow up on that today.

I’ve had the chance to speak with several staff at Methodist Hospital Dallas this week as we restart this ministry. I was truly saddened to hear how demoralized and down many of them sound. They are feeling a sense of being besieged by this latest spike in COVID hospitalizations and cases. 

Keep in mind, they’ve been fighting on the front lines of this pandemic for seventeen straight months. Like you and I, they believed we were near the “end of the tunnel” just a month ago. That same sense of depression and hopelessness *we* feel is magnified in their lives, because they are now beset by very sick patients once again.

It breaks my heart. I know it breaks yours too.

So, all I can say is: “All hands on deck.”

PLEASE let us write cards of support for the staff of Methodist Hospital Dallas.

Let’s also include support staff —food service and cleaning crews— in the cards that we write. They are ALL our heroes.

While we cannot visit them in person because of this pandemic…we *can* write to them. Those cards might be the thing that keeps some weary nurse from total despair during these next few weeks.

We’re also again collecting snacks and “care package” items as well.
The Chaplain’s Office tells me that during the pandemic they’ve instituted a regular round of taking snacks to the hospital staff and checking on them. That internal staff program started *because* of “Kessler4Methodist.”

Finally, as I mentioned in my sermon, I’m deeply disturbed about the “anti-vax” protestors outside of Methodist Hospital. Nothing could be more harmful to the morale of these healthcare heroes than this. As we’ve said, they’re already over-worked and over-taxed. They’re literally caring for unvaccinated and dying patients.

And yet, protestors have the *gall* to show up and speak against the very science that can end this pandemic?
Outrageous.

Therefore, very soon we will announce a prayer vigil on the Methodist Hospital parking lot.
This would be a time of prayer and support…for the medical staff…for the support staff…and for those desperately sick patients. We are communicating with the hospital staff so that they are aware and understand our intention for this to be supportive of them and prayerful throughout.

More details on this via email and social media soon.

In an email this week, the president of Methodist Hospital Dallas wrote me to thank you all for what you are doing. (You may recall his virtual greeting to us in worship, earlier this year…)

He wrote:

“Thank you so much for your prayers and gestures of kindness and compassion.  You and your congregation truly are His hands and His feet.”

I know you agree that in this horrible time, this is the least we can do. It’s our calling to serve our mission field.

So thanks and God bless you in advance for all you will do to support Kessler4Methodist.

Grace and Peace,
Eric Folkerth