This service for all people affected by cancer, whether in person or through family or friends, was held this year in St Aloysius’ Church Garnethill.  Road works and traffic problems (i.e. football matches) made travel more difficult and the service was held back to enable those en route to reach the church, and the musicians filled the waiting with quietly contemplative music.

When we were able to start, Fr Gerard Mitchell SJ took great pleasure in welcoming everyone to what he described as a beautiful service which gave anyone touched by cancer an opportunity to take time out and pray. He invited everyone to join in the opening Pause for Hope prayer.

After the scripture readings and psalm, the reflection was given by Rev Amanda Reid, Chaplain of Robin House Hospice, one of two hospices for children run by CHAS (Children’s Hospices across Scotland) who began by saying that she came to the service as a mum and an aunt.

She reread the Gospel passage from Mark:14; vs 3-8 about the anointing of Jesus by a women who poured out over his head a jar of expensive perfume, to the indignation of some of the bystanders.  She then made the link for us to the work of CHAS – lavishing care on someone who may not be with us for very long.

(Lord Jesus Christ, lover of all, trail wide the hem of your garment, bring healing, bring peace.)

She explained that for over 30 years CHAS has worked, through its hospices, at-home care services and in-hospital presence, to support families with children suffering from life-shortening conditions.  They support families at all stages and enable them to be with their child right up to the funeral if that is what is required.

But Rev Amanda emphasised that the hospices are places of life and laughter and hope, not darkness and despair. The charity fundraises endlessly for the funds needed and works with the media to raise the profile of its work and ensure people know it is there.

She finished her reflection with a lovely and moving short video of a family where they had helped the parents to bring forward their wedding and celebrate it at the hospice; this enabled their sick daughter and her sister to be present and to enjoy the day.  As she said, the video gave the family the last word on what CHAS meant.

A time of quiet followed as the congregation processed what they had seen, accompanied by some gentle harp music.  Then they were given the opportunity to write an intention on a prayer card for anyone they wished to pray for and to bring that card with a candle to the altar, where the candle was lit and the cards were placed in a basket to remain in the church for the coming year and be remembered in the prayers of the parish congregation.

(Harp music)

As they came forward, the St Mungo Singers led the singing of the beautiful and supportive hymn In Christ Alone my Hope is Found which finishes with the line “Here in the power of Christ I stand”.  When the candles were all lit, the congregation joined in prayer, ending with the plea:-

Give us, we pray, comfort in our anxiety and fear,

Courage and strength in our suffering.

Patience and compassion in our caring,

Consolation in our grieving, but, above all, give us hope

Now and always.

A poem by Sharyn Marsh (Leave Her Wild) – Grief Told me Its Name  – and the singing of the Wild Goose hymn  Lord Jesus Christ, Lover of All prepared the way for the intercessions for cancer sufferers, their families and friends and the doctors, nurses and carers, as well as those researching for a cure for cancer.

As always at this service, a collection was taken up for a cancer charity; this year it was for CHAS’s hospice Robin House at Balloch.  The service ended with a spoken and sung blessing and John Bell/Graham Maule’s affirming hymn We cannot measure. 

The parish community extended an invitation to all present to come to the Ogilvie Centre for refreshments and the chance to chat before returning once more to the outside world, an invitation taken up with great pleasure.

Acknowledgements: Lord Jesus Christ From “Heaven Shall Not Wait” Wild Goose Songs Vol 1 by John Bell & Graham Maule (c) 1987 Wild Goose Resource Group.  Harp music ‘St Thenew (c) Catherine Walker. Music by The St Mungo Singers.  Harp by Catherine Walker.