Keeping up to date with Spiritual Care in UHL April/May 2016 issue 5 SPIRITUAL CARE BULLETIN

Easter Easter is the most important festival in the The festival of Vaisakhi falls on 14th April 2016. For Christian year. This year it falls at the end of around the world this day celebrates the establishment March. Christians remember the death and of the (Nation of the Pure) in 1699 by the 10th Sikh resurrection of Jesus Christ and the (Divine Teacher) , who initiated importance of forgiveness. As Easter falls the first Sikhs into the Khalsa and gave them a distinct near the start of Spring, it also identity and code of conduct. symbolises new life and new hope. These themes may have special significance for To mark this festival Sikhs will spend time in celebration, people in hospital. meditation and reflection to contemplate the message of Vaisakhi; many will spend time in their local Gurdwara Holy Communion is a specific ritual which with family and friends. commemorates the final meal Jesus had with his disciples before he was crucified Many Sikhs are often initiated on this day. To show they (the Last Supper). He told them to have embraced their faith they accept the 5 K’s, the remember him by sharing bread and wine. identifying marks of a Sikh. These are: Christians do this regularly at services of Holy Communion. This is why Kesh - Uncut hair on the face, some patients may value the head, and all parts of the body. chance to attend the hospital Kanga - A wooden comb. chapel on Sunday mornings. Kara - A metal bracelet. Services of Holy Communion are held at LRI and GH each Kacchera - A pair of drawers Sunday. They are also held at (a specific type of cotton LGH roughly once a month. underwear). Christians who are unable to attend their Kirpan - A dagger or sword. own church, through age or illness, may be The 5 K's represent ideals such as used to receiving Holy Communion at home. honesty, equality, fidelity, This gives them a sense of connection with meditating on God, never bowing to tyranny, helping/ the wider Christian community and can protecting the weak, and self-defence. stimulate renewed hope and strength. Maintaining the 5 Ks will be very important to Sikh For Roman Catholic patients, this is an patients and staff in hospital and this is reflected in UHL’s important sacramental expression of their policies and procedures. faith and a direct means of God’s blessing and grace. If you would like to observe the Vaisakhi celebrations feel free to visit your local Gurdwara, which is open to all and The Chaplaincy Team can bring Holy have some food in the Langar Communion to patients at their bedside if (Community Kitchen) which is requested. This should take no longer than given freely to all. an ordinary visit. Patients who are unable to For more information contact our eat or drink may still appreciate hearing the Sikh chaplain: well-known prayers that accompany Holy Communion. [email protected]

Chaplaincy - here for you…… LRI 5487 | LGH 4243 | GH 3413 Recording Three Case Studies a patient’s Time to think - Jim, 65 years old was admitted to a general ward and kept on total bed rest. One morning, when the religion nurse was talking to him he became very emotional and began to cry. As the nurse listened to him it emerged that the anniversary of his wife’s death was approaching. For the Correctly recording a patient's religion last 10 years of her life, Jim had been her main carer. A day may give an important clue to some of did not pass without him thinking of her. Jim was not a their spiritual needs (though it may not religious man, but said he believed in life after death. tell the whole story). Could you identify Jim’s spiritual needs?

Other things that we discover about a Things that matter - John, a 21 year old mechanic, was patient may also provide vital clues to knocked off his motor bike and sustained severe head what motivates them and gives them a injuries. After several months he was transferred to a unit sense of identity and purpose. If you for intensive stimulation and rehabilitation. Prior to his need any help identifying a patient’s accident, John used to enjoy socialising with his friends. He spiritual needs, the chaplaincy team is was a keen musician, playing guitar in a local rock band. experienced in listening and Does John have spiritual needs? How would you go about accompanying people and can identifying them? supplement the work of your team. Things that are hidden - Sheila was withdrawn and detached herself from any form of interaction with other Chaplaincy Study Day patients. Initially this provoked a judgmental response from patients and staff. It emerged after some days that she had experienced a great loss and needed time to grieve and adjust. This resulted in the non-verbal cues that were

interpreted as odd and antagonistic. How might Sheila’s

spiritual needs be discovered?

Adapted from W McSherry - `Making Sense of Spiritual Care in Nursing and Healthcare Practice’ (pub Jessica Kingsley, 2006) Each year the Chaplaincy Team provides a study day for chaplaincy staff and volunteers. This year on 10th May our theme is ‘Dying Matters’ (coinciding with ‘Dying Matters Awareness Week’, 9th to 15th May). The Palliative Care Team and the Bereavement Support Service will tell us more about their services. We’ll consider different faiths’ rites of passage at the end of life, then finish by acknowledging our personal responses to these subjects. We’ll finish with a tour of the Guru Tegh Bahadur.