Maundy Thursday’s service in a care home in Newcastle was devoted to remembering and giving thanks for the lives of several residents who had died in recent months.
Anna Chaplain in Jesmond, Joan Grenfell, wrote to tell me how much she ‘wanted to share these pictures.’
‘Three of the residents had died since the previous Christmas Day,’ Joan explained, ‘and I was asked if I could do a service to remember them in thanksgiving for their lives. Since Maundy Thursday is a day of remembering and giving thanks, it seemed the perfect day to hold the service.’
‘I took in my olive wood carving of the last supper and spoke a little about its significance, before the prayers and lighting of candles, recalling our grief as well as our memories. There was a lovely time of sharing as the departed residents were remembered by fellow residents and staff.’
‘One of them, Fred, had been a resident for 18 years and I knew him for all of those years. He was a man of quiet, but deep faith, and it seemed to me to be fitting that he died on Christmas morning.’
‘It was lovely to see one resident at the service, Jill, engaging more closely with the carving and the candles. Visual and tactile senses are so important,’ added Joan, ‘when offering any kind of service to those who may have dementia or loss of hearing.’
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