Chaplains are for all faiths and none - “Chaplains offer pastoral and spiritual care to all patients and their carers, friends and family as well as NHS staff.”

I feel really fortunate to be able to serve as a hospital Chaplain and to be able to go to comfort those of all faiths and none. We are ultimately all looking for something that brings us hope, meaning and purpose. To be heard, loved and comforted.

I've found as time has gone on, that I am starting to see just as many members of staff in a day as I do patients. This has been so rewarding.

Something that has always meant a lot to me is being a bridge between the church and the world. I always wanted to bring some form of normality about religion and for people to feel comfortable speaking about their faith and asking questions. I felt grateful today for the feedback from one member of staff that I had really helped them through a difficult period of time. I was even more grateful for one member of staff realising I was a Chaplain and saying how “modern” I was - again - normalising and bridging the gap. God is for everyone, religion must be made accessible. Before I knew it, there was a small gathering of nurses, health care assistants and admin staff collectively talking about how we can see God in dogs - unconditional love and forgiveness! The Chosen; How Jesus was an actual historical figure; A real person and how what matters the most is what is in our hearts, we already have that relationship with God. A member of staff wanted to start going to church - the same one I attend, but they were nervous. I gave my contact details and said I would meet them outside and bring them into the building one Sunday - bridging the gap.

Another member of staff told me they were training to become a paramedic, I spoke to them about the volunteer Chaplain role I held in the ambulance service and they were surprised and interested about having someone there for crew to talk to - maybe it will open future conversations if they need to speak with a Chaplain one day. Another bridge?

Even more important to make accessible is Holy Communion - I have found a number of patients recently who haven't been able to receive Communion for extended periods of time whilst not attending church in the community - this has really saddened me. It feels like a broken bridge. They have said that as soon as they weren't able to attend a service, they felt they had been forgotten. Some were such key members of the church but now felt side lined. Aren't we told to “go out” to love and serve? Communion should be reaching all, especially the sick.

One communion today may well be someone's last, it is an absolute honour to be able to give communion at this time - food and strength for the onward journey. Perhaps made even more special by the partner also being a part of the service and receiving communion. It brought a tear to their eye and I am thankful to be a part of that moment.

Another patient that received communion today was up high on one of the wards in the new building - we looked out across the city spotting church steeples as we formed our own little church, “when two or three are gathered”. We played a hymn - (Lord of all Hopefulness). Music is something I love to be able to bring to patients. Music makes such a difference, I am now referred to as the “Chaplain with the music” on occasion. Although only for playing it via Spotify and not performing. I was advised to quit the piano by my tutor in primary school... I think one patient got confused once and had told another colleague that I had been singing to them, that was certainly not within my ability.

I've shared many special moments with people today - perhaps one being the simplest act of holding space for someone so frustrated by not being able to communicate like they could prior to a stroke. They wanted to be comforted. Although initially wary and declaring they were an atheist, I reminded them that we were there for all faiths and none. The simplest act of helping them take a sip of water and helping them to smile again at something is equally as important as the communion I bring. I left this patient with one our fabric hearts - I think they were visibly moved by this and sat starting at it for some time - taking in the fact that they were loved perhaps. God is love and is there for everyone - as I always follow “Comfort, O Comfort my people says your God” and this is what I aim to do each shift. Maybe love is a bridge to hope.

I think we must always try and remember what Jesus did for us - especially as we approach Easter. And even more so how he served. I see so many examples of serving in love and kindness by people who wouldn't call themselves Christian or don't think they are good enough. I equally see people who declare themselves devout Christians and try and put people down - maybe seeing church attendance as a tick box exercise into what makes a good Christian. This is why it is so important to be a bridge between the church and the world - to feed back to church what is going on in Chaplaincy in particular and to encourage those in the church to also go and serve where they are called in the world.

I attended an end of life call out recently and was asked to do the funeral - this is such a privilege - I will be helping the local parish Priest having referred them on to their local parish initially - another bridge between the hospital and the Church and having the honour to follow the journey from hospital ministry through to parish ministry.

I feel really fulfilled and grateful today - I ended it visiting and supporting a family whose relative is on end of life care. They spoke about how the relative was always giving directions and helped them to always know where they were going - even driving into the hospital the day before.

What came to me was to say that now God would be directing and leading their relative home - “I will go and prepare a place for you, and at the right time will come and take you to that place.” Jesus is our bridge from the world to our eternal home.

Lord of All Hopefulness

1. Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
   Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares can destroy,
   Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
   Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
2. Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
   Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
   Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
   Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
3. Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
   Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
   Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
   Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
4. Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
   Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
   Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
   Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.