LogoNNN
The Norfolk and Norwich Christian community website

HelenGarrard750
Norfolk health chaplain to lead online prayer 

Rev Helen Garrard, Lead Chaplain for Norfolk Community Health and Care is holding a weekly two-hour online prayer meeting following on from a 24-hour prayer vigil for all NHS acute and community services and other care providers.

Talking from her own, frontline experience, Helen said: “The situation nationally has been deteriorating for many weeks with increasing cases of Covid-19 arising from a newer, highly transmissible variant. In Norfolk, all three acute hospitals, the community hospitals, care and residential homes and community nursing and care teams are under a strain which has not been experienced previously.

“The combination of numbers of significantly unwell people, coupled with staff sickness and additional winter pressures are bringing the sector to crisis point.

“All sectors of public service are working in new and very challenging ways, anxiety is very high and many, many people are coping with bereavement.

“Within hospital and community settings chaplains continue to work hard to bring spiritual comfort, religious and pastoral care and support to all patients, families and staff in our areas.

“The time feels opportune now to turn to the faith which supports and resources our practice to unite the county in earnest prayer.”

The weekly prayer vigil via Zoom, from 4-6pm, will take place each Sunday starting on January 31 giving an opportunity to join with others in prayer for all those affected by the current pandemic.

Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 839 7875 2221
Passcode: 111127

The prayer vigils will take lace until April 25.

Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, has offered his full support to the prayer vigil initiative. He said: “At this time of crisis and suffering, both for patients and healthcare workers, we hold them in our prayers. One of our volunteer hospital chaplains told me of the challenging decisions clinicians are facing every hour and the many stresses and difficulties of caring at this time."

For more details, please contact elisabeth.garrard2@nchc.nhs.uk or phone 01603 255728.

Pictured above is Rev Helen Garrard at Priscilla Bacon Lodge.

Keith Morris, 30/01/2021

Keith Morris
30465 views
To submit a story or to publicise an event please email: web@networknorwich.co.uk