New Book on Scripture to Comfort the Sick

With so much focus in America on health care and health care reform, a new book by Beth Bosserman, Medicine from God: Scripture Verses to Encourage and Comfort the Sick (Pleasant Word, 2010), takes a pastoral care angle by offering a treasury of Bible verses offering strength, encouragement, comfort, and inspiration for those who are ill and for those who minister to the ill.

In the midst of debate, contention, and controversy over the legislation and implementation of new health care models, this book is a rather different and important Christian spiritual angle to address the needs of the sick. This is a side not covered very much in the media and so I'm glad to see it's being addressed in this way.

For more, read the entire story here at RNS.

Interfaith Vigil of Prayer, Hope & Action

"Beginning now and until health-care legislation is signed by President Obama, Christians, Muslims and Jews, across the country will be conducting a Vigil of Prayer, Hope and Action organized by Faithful Reform in Health Care (FRHC), a Cleveland, Ohio-based interfaith coalition." (Faith in Action, 1/13/10)

Read more of the story at Faith in Public Life.

Faiths Unite for Healthcare

"A faith-based vigil Saturday night included several hundred Christians, Jews and Muslims uniting for a common cause -- making health care available to all Americans regardless of income. The interfaith gathering at the Indiana Convention Center featured prayer, testimonies and music, with most participants professing the belief that health-care reform has moral and spiritual dimensions."

Since healthcare reform is one the foremost issues in public life today, it is important that faith communities come together and unite in pushing for a healthcare system that is readily available to all Americans regardless of their socio-economic status.

Taking the lead of the Indianapolis area, let's act locally in a united multi-faith manner to forward support for a universal healthcare plan.

Bill McCleery of the Indianapolis Star has the story at Faith in Public Life.

Interfaith Action for Healthcare Reform

An array of religious organizations are launching a concerted effort to push for health reform. With rallies, prayer services and ad campaigns and more, they are aiming to push Congress into action. The latest is the Faithful Reform in Health Care coalition, which will gather for an "Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer" in Washington this week and claims to be the largest faith-inspired mobilization around health care ever. June 19-26 Faithful Reform in Health Care will be holding their "Interfaith Week of Prayer for Health Care for All." Among other activities, the center will be the Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer on Wednesday, June 24, 4:00-8:00 pm, at Washington DC's Freedom Plaza, in view of the nation's Capitol.

Faithful America, which is clergy dedicated to healthcare reform, is a coalition also greatly involved.

Jacqueline L. Salmon of the Washington Post has the full article.