WHY!
Whole Health Year
Los Altos United Methodist Church
WHY! Program Description by Phase
Phase One (Fall 2005)
Phase Two (Winter / Spring 2006)
Phase Three (Spring / Summer 2006)
Phase Four (Future)
Phase Three (Spring / Summer 2006)

Toward the end of the year, we will encourage participants to take
assessments again to monitor progress.  We hope to have an
objective measure of how health has been improved. There will be
information on how to maintain change, how to continue to stay
healthy, accountability, etc.  

Top of page

Phase Four (Future)

Where else might this project lead us?

Top of page


Phase One (Fall 2005)

The first phase of the Whole Health Year will engage all interested
members of the congregation in a common study in small group
settings. God's Design for the Highly Healthy Person by Dr. Walt
Larimore is the basis for the study. Over 6-8 weeks, members will be
part of a small group (either existing or newly created) that will read
and discuss this book.  A workbook, Whole Health Year (WHY!)
Workbook, will serve as a guide for group sessions with suggested
discussion questions and also as a journal for individuals to write in
while they read the book.

Kickoff for WHY! will occur in September at Homecoming Sunday,
September 11th:
  1. sign up for a small group and
  2. read the first two chapters of the book and complete
    the four health wheels assessments
The following Sunday, September 18th, is Arts Alive! celebration:
The next Sunday, September 25th:
In October and November, the small groups will meet to discuss at
length the issues brought forth in Dr. Larimore's book as well as the
suggestion discussion questions.  

Information and sign-up form for the small groups can be found by
clicking here.

Health goals can be registered at any time by sending email.

Top of page

Phase Two (Winter / Spring 2006)

The next portion of WHY will consist of additional eduction and
support for participants to pursue their goals.  

There will be opportunities for more detailed assessments, if
individuals desire to do so.

Members may wish to include additional 'spokes' (health areas) on
their wheels of health.  

Workshops and seminars on specific topics will be held on the
church campus. Topics include everything from nutrition to
forgiveness to stress management.

One month will be devoted to each of the 4 wheels of health:
  • January - physical wheel
  • February - relational wheel
  • March - emotional wheel
  • April - spiritual wheel

Workshops during that month will pertain to that dimension of
health.  

There will be information/health "fairs" (potentially on Sunday
mornings) with both community and church resources of relevance,
thus enabling member-participants to take action toward their goals.

Opportunities will be made available for individuals to sign up for
new groups - either general or specific topic based.  There may be a
congregational survey to determine what topics are of particular
interest and need.

This phase will also address the youth and children in the
congregation.  Using Dr. Larimore's books, God's Design for the
Highly Healthy Child and God's Design for the Highly Healthy
Teen, we will have programs and/or groups to help parents address
the various diminsions of health with their children.

Top of page