HILLINGDON HOSPITAL CHAPEL
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For
two weeks in October I became a member of the Chaplaincy team at Hillingdon
Hospital.ææ The team consists of a full
time Anglican Chaplain, part time RC and Free Church chaplains and 24 lay
chaplains.
The
recently refurbished Chapel provides a multi-faith space for reflection and
prayer. The Chaplaincy team brings patients to and from the Sunday Service in
the chapel and visits bed-bound patients offering prayer, and the sacraments,
when requested.æ Recently a Sunday morning
service has been provided at the Riverside Mental Health Unit, along with a
Thursday evening 'Fellowship' meeting.
I
observed that staff are rushed offæ
their feet.æ Often patients just
want to talk - maybe about their ailment, an accident or their concerns for
their families (which are often greater than their concern for
themselves).æ The same, of course,
applies to friends and relatives of the patients who can be just as much, if
not more, in need of support.æ I
discovered that even those who have little to say at the beginning, and respond
with the usual ‹I‰m fineŠ, if given time, will invariably open up and start
sharing the things that are troubling them.
The
Hospital has many aspects to its work and I was privileged to be able to visit
the Riverside Psychiatric Department.æ I
understand that visits can be quite 'eventful‰, but on the evening I went
everything was calm.æ The Chaplaincy has
gained the respect of the medical staff to the point where Thursday evenings
are given to the team to gather the patients together for a time of open
discussion. This is separate from the clinical assessments made by the
medics.æ It is amazing just how often
God features in these times.
If
you are ever unfortunate enough to find yourself in Hillingdon Hospital, remember
that there is a Chaplaincy team there who, at your request, will come and spend
time with you, pray with you and help in any way they can.ææ I was deeply impressed by their loving care
and professionalism.
Mike
Bisset (Curate)
PATIENT SERVICE 2003
More volunteers needed urgently
The next Sunday when
volunteers are needed to collect patients from wards for Communion services in
the hospital chapel are:æ Hillingdon Hospital, Sunday 16th
February and 6th April plus Mount Vernon Hospital on 27th April. More
dates will be published in future months. This small service is very
much appreciated by patients who have no family available to help them. Anyone
who is able to assist, please contact Alan Grove on 020 8868 9220.
HAYES BOOKSHOP SAYS GOODBYE
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After 30 years of trading in Ickenham and 60 years, in total, of bookselling, Charles and Betty Glover are taking the opportunity to retire from their bookshop in Glebe Avenue when its lease expires at the end of March. The couple‰s friendliness, and community spirit, will be missed greatly š not the least for acting as a voluntary outlet for all those Ickenham, and Hillingdon based, concert and show tickets.
Betty started working in the
book trade, in Uxbridge, during the war years, and met Charles when he returned
from military service. They opened their first shop in Hayes in 1947. The
Ickenham one was bought in 1970, initially for school supplies, but leasing
problems in Hayes forced them to move and concentrate on just the one premises
in the late 1970's. æ
Charles is well known locally
as a keen supporter of the Scout Movement rising to District Commissioner, and
currently President of Uxbridge District Scouts. Betty was for many years a
Committee Member of 1st Uxbridge Scout Group. Charles was also a founder member
of Hillingdon Arts Association and Argosy Players.
Betty has concentrated all her
efforts in the shop over the last 5 years, dispensing sympathy, condolence and
friendship along with the books as, due to illness, Charles has taken more of a
back seat. Both are looking forward to a peaceful retirement in the pleasant
surrounds of Milton Court so, of course, we will still see them around in the
village.
Charles and Betty wish to thank all their friends, and customers, for
their support over so many years and want you all to know that their clearance
sale began on 13th January. They hope to see you there.
BRIAN THEODORE DAVIES 1915 š
2002
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Readers will be saddened to
hear that Brian passed away, peacefully, in Hillingdon Hospital on 17th
December 2002 after a period of months during which his health had been
deteriorating. Brian will be missed, greatly, by all who knew him and our
thoughts, and prayers are extended to his wife Eileen, both children, the three
grandchildren, and all his friends and other members of the family. Brian‰s
obituary can be found on ICNOnline.
When Jesus chose his disciples
he was not looking for dauntless heroes. Just as we do, they feared the actions
of hostile officials. But they were fearful at other times too. For example
when Jesus quelled the storm and walked on the waves.
In awe they asked themselves
what manner of man this was, and when they saw that the healing of the
demonised man was followed by the suicidal plunge of the pigs into the sea,
they became afraid.
æ
The entry of Jesus into the
world brought with it the supernatural, and in the face of paranormal forces,
it is not surprising that the people of that time should express fear.
æ
We could speculate today how
the world would react to reliable news from scientists claiming an intelligent
response to radio signals from outer space. The evidence of alien forces in a
world we think is our own would inevitably threaten our security.
Not surprisingly the first
words of the angels to the shepherds were, 'Fear not'. Such was the shock when
an angel rolled the stone away from the tomb that the keepers ëshook with fear
and became as dead men‰.
æ
Christians believe that the
power Jesus had was literally out of this world. So frightening,
unexpected, and disconcerting,
were Jesus‰ resurrection appearances to his friends that his first words to
them were, ' Do not be afraid. Peace be unto you‰.
æ
The fact that the Christian
knows peace, where he once knew fear, should be especially valued, for Jesus
entered into this world with peace, and has promised it to those who believe in
him.
Brian T Daviesæ R.I.P.
