“Are you ready for Christmas?” is probably top of the most frequently asked questions for many people during the month of December. But what does it mean to be ‘ready’? Christmas and the days surrounding it, however it is portrayed in the media, is a time of mixed emotions for many.
A time for celebration
Some will be celebrating. Christians will look forward to celebrating Christmas, marking Christ’s birth with traditional carols and services. Earlier in December (from 14th-22nd) Jews will celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights (Chanukah in Hebrew) by lighting one candle on a candelabrum called a hanukkiah each day. 21st December is the Pagan Festival of Yule, marking the Winter Solstice, where a light or Yule log is kept burning brightly until sunrise, celebrating the lengthening days and the sun’s ‘return’. Many, whether or not they practice a particular faith or belief, will look forward to spending time with family and friends.
A time of challenge
Others will find the time of year especially challenging. They may be spending Christmas far from home and loved ones. They may be missing loved ones who have died. When everyone else seems to be spending time with others, those who are lonely may feel even more isolated. And it’s challenging too for those who are in hospital, those who had hoped to be home for Christmas, and those for whom Christmas plans have been turned upside-down because of emergency admission.
A time for support
Throughout the year, the Chaplaincy Team provides support to thousands of people of all faiths and beliefs and none. This continues at Christmas time (we provide a 24/7 year-round service including bank holidays!) where we are available to support patients, their visitors, staff and anyone who needs us. We can provide a listening ear, offer prayers and sacraments if required, and we have a network of contacts from different faith and belief groups who we can call to provide support as needed. We won’t judge or criticise, preach or force religion, and we promise not to outstay our welcome!
A time of hope, remembrance and reflection
Within a busy hospital, space for peace and reflection is so important. Our Chapels/Multi-Faith areas provide just this space on each of our hospital sites and are open 24/7. This Christmas, we will offer two opportunities in each of these spaces (at Andover, Basingstoke, and Winchester) for ‘gathered’ remembering and reflection. With a new year approaching, come and write a tag to be placed on our “Tree of Hopes and Dreams”; if you want to remember a loved one this Christmas – someone who has died, who you are separated from by distance or by any other life circumstance, please write their name on a star and add it to our “Wall of Stars”. Together we can remember, hope and dream.
There will be many in our wards who cannot attend the Chapel but who are missing the Christmas festivities. We look forward to welcoming friends from the local community to sing carols around the wards in Basingstoke and Winchester this year.
Last year, the carol singers dispersed around one of our hospitals, and a small group entered a ward where they were told that a gentleman was dying. They were about to move on so as not to disturb when the patient’s family member came and said, “Please will you sing ‘Silent Night’; it’s his favourite”. So the group sang, and the family thanked them for providing such a gift of comfort, and even joy, in this man’s final moments.
Wherever you are this Christmas time, whether you spend it alone or in company, in celebration or challenge, may you know “tidings of comfort and joy”.
Rev’d Debbie Howard
Lead Chaplain
Find out more about our Chaplaincy services here.
