September 2023

Linda Schoene wanted to be a nurse for as long as she can remember! She outlined her career plans in an essay in 8th grade but, growing up in the 1960’s, she didn’t always receive the encouragement she deserved. A guidance counselor told her she was too smart to be a nurse, and a youth advisor (a physician) recommended that she attend a hospital-based school for nursing: if she went through a degree program she would be a smarter—but not a better-- nurse. At the same time, while a junior in high school, Linda’s mother became seriously ill, and Linda cared for her until her death that summer. Nevertheless, in 1968 after graduating from high school in Lyons, NY (population 5000), Linda attended SUNY Brockport and earned her BS in nursing four years later. After graduation Linda and a roommate moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Jim Schoene, whom Linda had met on Spring Break in Daytona Beach a few years earlier, was an engineering student. They married in 1973, and she worked in obstetrics at the UofM Hospital until Jim graduated in 1974. He was offered a job with MW Kellogg in Houston; they lived here for a short time, and then they were off to southern Maryland. Jim and Linda became parents to one boy and two girls— and Linda worked part-time work along the way, volunteering with the Red Cross, teaching childbirth classes, and working with the Bloodmobile. In 1988, in Shreveport, La., she resumed working in a hospital setting. It was here that Linda’s journey as a Lutheran began– when she visited Holy Trinity Lutheran in 1986 and then joined after falling in love with the liturgy. She taught first communion classes there, and, interestingly, one of her students was Evan McClanahan, now a pastor at First Evangelical Houston. The family moved to Houston (again) in 1999, never dreaming that it would be their last move! When Jim retired in 2016, they had crisscrossed the country, moving 13 different times in 42 years—and Linda had been licensed as a nurse in 9 different states. After the move to Houston in 1999 Linda would drive past Christ the King Church every day on her way to work at the Women’s Hospital and soon joined our congregation. In January 2001, the church council under the leadership of Pastor Moore, committed to “explore the possibilities for Parish Nurse Ministry” as one of the congregation’s missional emphases, and before year’s end had decided to add the position of a nurse to the church staff. At the same time Pastor Beth Warpmaeker and Pastor Fred Haman, working to build on our Congregational Care Team and to formalize a health ministry, asked Linda if she would like to be the congregational nurse. There was no job description, and no one was exactly sure what this new position would entail; nevertheless, she agreed and was commissioned as our congregational nurse in December 2001. Now, 20 years later, the work she began has become an integral part of our congregational life. Her focus in the early years of this ministry was the education of herself as well as the congregation about this new concept— through Banner articles, blood pressure screenings, home visits, and educational workshops. Courses in basic preparation for faith community nursing (Incarnate Word, San Antonio, in 2003) and in Lay Chaplaincy through an introduction to the Community of Hope helped her define her role, reach out to members, and build trust in our community. Karen Hahn from the Institute of Spirituality and Health along with Helen Appleberg, founder of Community of Hope, provided much guidance as the health ministry developed here at CTK. Together with the Congregational Care Team that ministry grew as member needs and member gifts were paired. Linda understands that the prime role of a congregational nurse is advocating for the patient as well as educating the family and their caregivers when there are healthrelated needs. She helps people understand what to expect during a hospital stay, and she stays in touch with them when they go home. Sometimes members request assistance with follow-up appointments as well as with meds issues, and others utilize her expertise while identifying and visiting rehab facilities. She has arranged CPR classes for the congregation and has established an emergency plan for incidents at the church; ushers have instructions to follow and there are yellow vests for responders to wear. Our LEM - Lay Eucharistic Ministry-program has been an important part of her ministry and she will continue as LEM coordinator. Linda believes that now is the right time to retire. Her nurse’s license expires June 30, and that will be her last day as our congregational nurse. Her husband is retired. Her son and two grandson live in Houston; her daughters and one grandson live in Portland, OR. There are many youth baseball games and much travel in their future! Nevertheless, Linda wants members to feel free to call her if they need help during this period of transition. Linda would also like all of us to know “what a blessing it has been to be able to connect my faith to the profession and calling that I love and to work in the context of a caring faith community!”