Sunday 30 January 2011

Worship in the Hospital

Having spent time praying around our local hospital for a couple of years our house church had permission today to worship and praise God in the hospital chapel. Apart from also soaking the place in prayer it was a priviledge to bring the presence of our God into this place. Christianity has been marginalised in the multi-faith chapel so it is a move in the right direction that a room has been given over for a Christian chapel. So we leave behind a cloud of Glory.



Being early Sunday morning the place is quiet but this atrium will be teeming with people tomorrow

The coffee shop on the left is not yet open and there is nobody playing the piano


but the restaurant is already open though quiet. It will be a bit noisier when we round off our time here with coffee

A very different faith experience last Thursday for me. I was involved in a quiet, almost silent day at Pilgrims Hall and found my time of just 'being' a good experience.
No telephone or computer or anything else to distract and even got to delve into the book that my dear blogging friend Sara sent to me for my birthday last year.



Although for sometime I have been interested in the Hebraic roots of my faith and am involved in some study in this field, I was not sure until I opened this book just what it was about. From what I have read so far (and I am sure there is much more)I am finding it very interesting to see what was behind many of the sayings that Jesus used and how the wording was very much a part of the culture in which He lived. So helpful in interpreting Scripture, especially the Parables.


One never knows what one is going to find in a book in more ways than one!
This little card was in a very old second hand book I bought at the
 Town of Books, Hay-on-Wye
some years ago
Obviously given to an Alice Hollis
on Whit Sunday 1884
I just could not throw it away, so laminated it instead, and kept it as a book mark. 



So what else dominated this last week of the first month of 2011?
A dinner party here and another at the home of a friend, tea and chats with other friends. 
Serving teas etc. at a churches together time to pray for and encourage the youth of our Borough who are out in the community seeing God working in people's lives
and another visit to the Drs surgery to arrange what I trust will be my last scan.
How quickly this first month of the year has passed. Hard to believe.

19 comments:

La Petite Gallery said...

It did pass quick, we are having more snow this coming week. That
is a lovely hospital, very bright and even a piano my I haven't seen that here. Glad to see February come, hope it's warmer.
I know you are happy to have your last treatment. Take care.

yvonne

Adrienne said...

Oh, I wish I could have joined you in worship at the hospital. What a blessing - and a witness. The book looks like something I need to read. And some time of quiet, away from the demands of life, would be a good thing.
~Adrienne~

Elizabethd said...

I too cant believe that January is nearly over.
Your hospital worship must have been a blessing....and what a wonderful space it is.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

January was a long and very full month here too. It was also a very cold and snowy one too. I'm just home from a weekend with some of my family and am soaking in the quiet. I love my time with them but I've grown used to my quiet here at home too. I do hope all is well with you too.

Annie Jeffries said...

Good afternoon, Barbara. I'm always surprised at the hospital chapels being empty when I need to go in. My good luck, perhaps, put I hope they are used more often then it would seem.

Sara's gift book to you looks very interesting. I will add it to my To Be Read list.

I too have found little unexpected treasures in old books I've picked up and they never fail to delight.

I hope your February is as nice as your January as been.

Elizabeth said...

I really think it is an excellent idea to have prayer in hospitals. People are obviously stressed when there and healing in both body and spirit are in order.
When Robert was in hospital for a lengthy stay some years ago, he found the Roman Catholic chaplain a most cheering visitor. We are not Catholic, but he was just a really nice warm-hearted chap!
I welcome prayers from all people of goodwill.
Interested in your book from Sara. People so often forget that Jesus was a Jew.
Hope your/our weather warms up for Feb!

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Barbara, you had a beautifiul week. I am very interested in your book. I just might have to find it for myself.

Lorrie said...

Understanding the Jewish culture of the day goes a long way in helping me understand Jesus' teachings. We took a class once about various sayings of Jesus and the teacher put them in context. It was enlightening.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

I love sweet little surprises found within the pages of old books...and could never throw away something like that either.

The musician will be interested to see a piano in the hospital atrium!

Gwendolyn said...

I am praising the Lord with you for the opportunity to worship within the walls of the hospital and trust it was a blessing to all! Also, a big praise to know that you anticipate having your last scan!

What fun to find the memorabilia within your book, and to know that someone was passing along an encouraging word from the Word!

Needled Mom said...

What a wonderful experience to worship at the hospital!!! It looks like a beautiful setting too.

How fun to find your bookmark! It was such a good idea to laminate it and use it as such.

Hope February is warmer for you.

Anonymous said...

How inspiring that you were able to worshp in the Hospital Chapel - awesome. Three weeks in South Africa without my laptop or full use of my mobile phone was also a 'retreat' from the world and it's amazing how easily we can get by without them :)) the book looks interesting I've nearly finished 'The Long Road to Freedrom' by Nelson Mandela. Take care, Judyx

Lori Zehr said...

Lovely thoughts. I enjoyed the little book treasure. I've found them too! Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Hi Barbara,
Looks like an interesting book.
Isn't it fun to find something in an old book. I love when I find an inscription and a date. I always wonder who the person was and what they thought of the book. :-)
January has gone by fast!
Blessings!

Knitting Mania said...

I agree, where did January go??? And now into February...

What a beautiful hospital...such a lovely coffee shop and piano area, so elegant. Nothing like ushering in the presence of the Lord where people need a touch from God.

:)

Vee said...

How precious to have the opportunity to bathe a hospital and its chapel in prayer. "A cloud of Glory"...I love that. I like the new bookmark you have as well. That's a little God breeze or a God "wink" as some people call them.

Anonymous said...

Greetings from Southern California :-)

I added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.

God Bless You, ~Ron

Deanna said...

Thinking about you.
d

a woman who is said...

Lovely how your house church, doesn't stay in a house. I love that you are praying together in public places, and leaving an atmosphere of glory behind!