Ebenezer Spiritual Health Programs
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Ebenezer offers spiritual health programs at many of our communities. These programs support residents, family members and staff in continuing spiritual growth and well-being. Spiritual health can have a positive effect on both health and longevity. Studies have shown that spiritual care can:
Our spiritual health services are designed to meet residents’ needs for meaning, connection, harmony and inner peace in this season of life. The Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program is an experienced-based, theological education for clergy and lay people wishing to improve their spiritual care skills or to explore a career as a chaplain. CPE combines the practice of spiritual care with qualified supervision and peer group reflection. Students develop competency in the art and skills of spiritual care. They explore their spiritual histories and deepen their pastoral identity to provide more meaningful and skilled spiritual health services to those they encounter. Fairview and Ebenezer have partnered for many years to offer Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at various clinical sites with the support of the highly skilled CPE Supervisors and Clinical Coordinator Chaplains. To read more about the programs offered by Fairview in collaboration with Ebenezer please click here: |
Locationsbloomington
burnsville
The Ebenezer Ridges Campus in Burnsville is served by the Chaplain Chris Beckman, BCC, during business hours as well as on-call 24 hours a day. Chaplain Chris is a board certified chaplain (BCC) and a pastor who is ordained and endorsed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Chapel Worship Service Schedule
Edina
Aurora on France
6500 France Avenue South, MN 55435 The spiritual health programs at the Ebenezer Aurora Campus support residents, family members and staff in their continuing spiritual growth and well being. Spiritual care can have a positive effect on both health and longevity. Studies have shown that spiritual care can: • Slow the progression of cognitive impairment with aging and may be associated with a slower progression of Alzheimer’s Disease • Foster increased social participation • Lower stress and increase coping capabilities Vision for Spiritual Health Services at Aurora Older adults often engage in the deeply spiritual work of self-exploration by making meaning out of one’s life experiences. The desire to care for others, to guide the next generation, and to know that one’s life is meaningful and valuable to others are essential to a person’s spiritual well-being. Our spiritual health team will support you in this work. We offer opportunities to process life experiences through shaping a spiritual autobiography, engaging life review including claiming one’s legacy, spirituality groups, as well as religious worship services and rituals. We will conduct a monthly service of welcome to new residents among many other activities. Our spiritual health team is sensitive to the religious, cultural and spiritual diversity of all. We seek to honor each person’s religious and spiritual journey. We connect residents with the spiritual resources they desire and protect them from unwelcome forms of spiritual intrusion. Our spiritual health services are aimed to meet residents’ needs for a meaningful spirituality, a sense of connection, harmony and inner peace in this season of life. 
Chaplain Mirjam Berger, MTh., ACPE Supervisor, United Church of Christ, UCC ordained clergy
Email: Mberger6@fairview.org York Gardens
3451 Parklawn Ave., MN 55435 
The Ebenezer York Gardens Campus in Edina is served by the Chaplain Kwanza Yu.
Chaplain Kwanza Yu, DMin - ELCA Ordained Pastor Phone: 612-898-6738 Email: ayu1@Fairview.org Chapel Worship Service Schedule Every Sunday at 1pm - Worship with Holy Communion Every Monday 3:30pm - Chapel Service at Garden View 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month - Bible Study Celebration of Life Services on Mondays as needed Special Services
lakeville
The spiritual care programs at The Fountains at Hosanna! support residents, family members and staff in their continuing spiritual growth and well being.
Spiritual care can have a positive effect on both health and longevity. Studies have shown that spiritual care can: • Slow the progression of cognitive impairment with aging and may be associated with a slower progression of Alzheimer’s Disease • Foster increased social participation • Lower stress and increase coping capabilities Worship Services Schedule Ecumenical Services at The Fountains - Wednesdays, 10:00 am Open invitation to attend Hosanna! Church on the Campus, Saturdays at 5 p.m., or Sundays at 9 or 11 a.m. Or, live weekend Hosanna! worship services are also available on residents' televisions Roman Catholic Mass by All Saints Catholic Church at The Fountains, one time each six weeks, 11 am Roman Catholic Rosary and Communion, led by All Saints Catholic Church Deacons or Eucharistic Lay Ministers, each week at 11 a.m. Wednesday Worship Themes • Holy Communion • Memorial Services • Healing & Communion • Creative Worship • Guest Pastors and Musicians Daily Ecumenical Devotions at 9 a.m. Weekly Bible and faith-based topical studies Frequent hymn sings and inspirational music performances Faith-based support groups for caregivers Open invitation to all Hosanna! Church’s courses/events Special Services
Minneapolis
Ebenezer Care Center
2545 Portland Avenue, The spiritual health programs at the Ebenezer Minneapolis Campus support residents, family members and staff in their continuing spiritual growth and well being. The Minneapolis Campus is home to rich diversity that reflects the neighborhood in which it is located.
Spiritual care can have a positive effect on both health and longevity. Studies have shown that spiritual care can:
The Campus is served by Chaplain Don Knudson and Chaplain Luke Roske-Metcalfe during business hours as well as on-call 24 hours a day.
Care Center Chapel Worship and Program Schedule: Sundays – 9:15 a.m. – Ecumenical Worship with Holy Communion Fridays – 9:15 a.m. – Catholic Eucharist weekly, Mass once a month Tuesday’s and Thursdays – 9:15 a.m. Devotional service and prayers Wednesdays – 2:30 pm. – Bible Study Special Holiday and Holy Day Services Observed
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Reviving and nurturing the connection with the Sacred in Memory Care
by Mirjam Berger, Th.M.
Corporate Director of Spiritual Health Services
ACPE Certified Educator
What is Godly Play?
GODLY PLAY™ is an imaginative, Montessori-based approach to religious formation developed by the Rev. Dr. Jerome W. Berryman and used by many faith groups around the world. It is a creative and playful way of bringing stories of faith to life on an experiential level. It uses two and three dimensional figures to tell the story in a vivid way and then invites – through wondering questions - engagement with the story. Traditionally, this method is used in the faith formation process of children.
In 2015 Lois Howard wrote an inspiring booklet “Using Godly Play with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patients”. In it she outlined her experience of using this method since 2006 in Lexington, Kentucky. Her writing inspired chaplains at Ebenezer to follow in her footsteps. In March and April of 2018, our team (including chaplains in training) engaged in two days of hands-on training in Godly Play with Minneapolis Godly Play trainer Susan Mallison. Her enthusiasm and curiosity about bringing stories alive with older adults in varying stages of dementia was instrumental to our success. Another amazing supporter is Jon Lundberg, President of Ebenezer and Fairview Post-Acute Care. An avid woodworker, he created several wooden figurines that are being used in the process of telling Sacred Stories. We are also very grateful to all donors who through Ebenezer’s Foundation generously supported this project.
Sacred Story
We decided that our goal was not to help participants remember the stories but to facilitate a way for each person to connect with the Sacred while also being in community with each other. Our context in larger long term and senior care settings in Minnesota is one of growing cultural and religious diversity. We wanted to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for everyone while drawing on different sacred stories. We called it “Sacred Story.” What we discovered continues to amaze us.
Initially we anticipated 4-6 people would come and listen to the story and engage with it. To our surprise, at one of our communities we regularly have between 15-20 participants, at another 6-10. Not everyone knows or remembers the others’ names all the time. We introduced name tags so that residents could see and hear each other’s names frequently. Calling each group member by name is a crucial aspect of this model, to create community and to be known by each other (and the Sacred) by name. Interestingly, one of the residents whose Alzheimer’s disease had progressed significantly was so delighted to see her name in writing. For her, to be in that circle of friends, to be known and to recognize her own name was the most meaningful part of this day’s Sacred Story time. As we sing together and then hear, see, and feel a Sacred Story, we open up new and different ways to experience the Divine. Wondering questions invite each participant to connect with the Sacred in their very own way. Residents may recall memories that resonated with the stories being told, such as reconciling with a sibling, welcoming back a child into one’s family, or helping a stranger in need.
My people
The stories we tell include the parable of the Great Pearl (which touches on what may be the most important thing in one’s life, and what it feels like to give everything away), the Ten Best Ways to live by (traditionally known as the Ten Commandments) and the story of the Exodus (a story about suffering, liberation, freedom, divine intervention and joyful celebration).
Recently when I told this last story, using our “desert bag” filled with sand, I was deeply touched by the reaction of one resident who kept saying: “This is my story, these are my people.” We then spent time together speaking about the resident’s childhood and family. The smile and warmth reflected on the resident’s face as we talked was enlivening.
When we conclude our Sacred Story time, we go around in the circle and offer silence, thoughts or prayer, deepening on each resident’s desire. Those who voice prayers out loud frequently pray for their families. I hope that many families know that despite their sad experience of no longer being recognized as son, daughter, spouse or friend, their family member may well be reaching out in an unseen way, and praying for them.
by Mirjam Berger, Th.M.
Corporate Director of Spiritual Health Services
ACPE Certified Educator
What is Godly Play?
GODLY PLAY™ is an imaginative, Montessori-based approach to religious formation developed by the Rev. Dr. Jerome W. Berryman and used by many faith groups around the world. It is a creative and playful way of bringing stories of faith to life on an experiential level. It uses two and three dimensional figures to tell the story in a vivid way and then invites – through wondering questions - engagement with the story. Traditionally, this method is used in the faith formation process of children.
In 2015 Lois Howard wrote an inspiring booklet “Using Godly Play with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patients”. In it she outlined her experience of using this method since 2006 in Lexington, Kentucky. Her writing inspired chaplains at Ebenezer to follow in her footsteps. In March and April of 2018, our team (including chaplains in training) engaged in two days of hands-on training in Godly Play with Minneapolis Godly Play trainer Susan Mallison. Her enthusiasm and curiosity about bringing stories alive with older adults in varying stages of dementia was instrumental to our success. Another amazing supporter is Jon Lundberg, President of Ebenezer and Fairview Post-Acute Care. An avid woodworker, he created several wooden figurines that are being used in the process of telling Sacred Stories. We are also very grateful to all donors who through Ebenezer’s Foundation generously supported this project.
Sacred Story
We decided that our goal was not to help participants remember the stories but to facilitate a way for each person to connect with the Sacred while also being in community with each other. Our context in larger long term and senior care settings in Minnesota is one of growing cultural and religious diversity. We wanted to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for everyone while drawing on different sacred stories. We called it “Sacred Story.” What we discovered continues to amaze us.
Initially we anticipated 4-6 people would come and listen to the story and engage with it. To our surprise, at one of our communities we regularly have between 15-20 participants, at another 6-10. Not everyone knows or remembers the others’ names all the time. We introduced name tags so that residents could see and hear each other’s names frequently. Calling each group member by name is a crucial aspect of this model, to create community and to be known by each other (and the Sacred) by name. Interestingly, one of the residents whose Alzheimer’s disease had progressed significantly was so delighted to see her name in writing. For her, to be in that circle of friends, to be known and to recognize her own name was the most meaningful part of this day’s Sacred Story time. As we sing together and then hear, see, and feel a Sacred Story, we open up new and different ways to experience the Divine. Wondering questions invite each participant to connect with the Sacred in their very own way. Residents may recall memories that resonated with the stories being told, such as reconciling with a sibling, welcoming back a child into one’s family, or helping a stranger in need.
My people
The stories we tell include the parable of the Great Pearl (which touches on what may be the most important thing in one’s life, and what it feels like to give everything away), the Ten Best Ways to live by (traditionally known as the Ten Commandments) and the story of the Exodus (a story about suffering, liberation, freedom, divine intervention and joyful celebration).
Recently when I told this last story, using our “desert bag” filled with sand, I was deeply touched by the reaction of one resident who kept saying: “This is my story, these are my people.” We then spent time together speaking about the resident’s childhood and family. The smile and warmth reflected on the resident’s face as we talked was enlivening.
When we conclude our Sacred Story time, we go around in the circle and offer silence, thoughts or prayer, deepening on each resident’s desire. Those who voice prayers out loud frequently pray for their families. I hope that many families know that despite their sad experience of no longer being recognized as son, daughter, spouse or friend, their family member may well be reaching out in an unseen way, and praying for them.
