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Document No 57

2004          Page last updated: 13 August, 2005

Welcome

The Revd David Crawley
Manager of Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care Services

Opening Reflection

Mrs Cynthia Capey
Hon. Faiths Officer, Suffolk Inter-Faith Resource

We can see in the work of the National Health Service a commitment to fight against disease and ill-health, where people of different religions and of none are united. And our care extends to the spiritual as well as the strictly medical, for a person's health and well-being are achieved on many different levels. For this reason we have come together this evening to dedicate this Multi Faith Room.

Dedication

All We set aside this room for the use of all,
regardless of faith or belief.
Here may no idle word be spoken,
no unquiet thought disturb our minds.
In our work, in prayer and meditation,
may we move from darkness to light,
finding along the uncertain way
tranquility, well-being and love.
For the benefit of all living beings
together we dedicate this room.

deqqThe Chairman of West Suffolk Hospitals

Veronica Worrall will now light
the first candle on behalf of the Hospital.
Light is a universal symbol of reason and aspiration,
also of faith and the spiritual life.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

Sung by St Louis Middle School Choir

Buddhism

"I take my refuge in the Buddha,
and pray that with all beings I may
understand the Great Way, whereby the
Buddha seed may forever thrive.

I take my refuge in the Dharma,
and pray that with all beings I may enter
deeply into the sutra-treasure, whereby
our wisdom may grow as vast as the ocean.

I take my refuge in the Sangha,
and pray that with all beings I may reign
in great multitudes and have nothing
to check the unimpeded progress of truth."

Avatamsaka Sutra

(The Buddha is the Enlightened One, the Dharma is the path
he taught, the Sangha is the community of his followers)

Christianity

"O Lord, make us instruments of your peace!
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that we may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."

Prayer of Saint Francis

Hinduism

The Lord Protector of all,
Self-existent - All Knowing, All Bliss.
The Creator of the Universe,
Is worthy of our Choice.
May we meet this Divine Grace?
With His wisdom may we be inspired.
Let there be Peace in high world,
Peace be in mid region,
Peace be on earth.
May the waters flow peacefully.

May the shrubs and herbs grow peacefully.
May all the Divine powers bring Peace to us.
Brahma the Supreme is Peace.
May all be in Peace,
and may that Peace come unto me.
Let there be Peace for ever.

Rig Veda, Ancient Hindu scripture

Islam

In the Name of God the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful.

"Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day there are signs for men who understand. Those who remember Allah, standing and sitting and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: Our Lord! Thou has not created this in vain! Glory be to Thee; save us from the chastisement of the fire." Qur'an 3: 189-191

"I swear by the sun and his brightness, And the moon when she follows him, and the day when it shows it, and the night when it draws a veil over it, And the heaven and Him Who made it, and the earth and Him Who extended it, And the soul and Him who made it perfect, then He inspired it to understand what is right and wrong for it; He will indeed be successful who purifies it, And he will indeed fail who corrupts it."

Qur'an 91: 1-10

Judaism

Magnified and sanctified be the great name of the One by whose will the world was created. May God's rule become effective in your lives, and in the life of the whole House of Israel. May it be so soon, and let us say; Amen.

May God's great name be praised to all eternity.

Blessed and praised; glorified, exalted and extolled; lauded, honoured and acclaimed be the name of the Holy One, who is ever to be praised, though far above eulogies and songs of praise and consolation that human lips can utter; and let us say: Amen .

May great peace descend from heaven, and abundant life be granted, to us and all Israel; and let us say: Amen.

May the Most High, Source of perfect peace, grant peace to us, to all Israel, and to all humanity, and let us say: Amen.

Jewish Prayer Book

Sikhism

If you take one step to take refuge in the Lord
The Lord meets you on the way
by taking hundreds of steps.
If you remember the Lord just once,
The Lord remembers you again and again.
Even if your devotion is as small as a fragment of a shell.
The Lord showers all benefit on you.
The Lord is all merciful,
His praise is beyond understanding;
I bow again and again to the One and incomprehensible Lord.

Guru Granth Sahib

The Symbol of Light

Representatives of each of the major faiths
will now light a candle.

The Symbol of Sharing

We pass round to each other fruit and nuts
representing the gifts of the bountiful earth
which makes no discrimination.

The Millennium Resolution

ALL Let there be
respect for the earth,
peace for its people,
love in our lives,
delight in the good,
forgiveness for past wrongs
and from now on a new start.

There are as many faiths in the world as there are people.
Everyone present is invited to light a candle
and to dedicate their own faith on this auspicious occasion.

Music provided by Clare Langham

Conclusion

The Revd David Crawley

" The West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust wishes to express its deep gratitude to the Friends of the West Suffolk Hospital, whose generous funding has made this project possible, and to the Facilities Dept. for all their support and practical assistance.

We would also like to acknowledge our sincerest thanks and appreciation to Suffolk Inter-Faith Resource (SIFRE) and its representatives for their invaluable contribution to the development of the Multi Faith Room.

However, today's ceremony is just a milestone in our continuing journey towards a greater understanding of people's needs, whatever their background or tradition, and we will always be grateful for observations or suggestions which may help us on this journey."

Veronica Worrall
Chairman West Suffolk Hospitals

Our thanks to all who have participated in this Dedication Ceremony, especially to Clare Langham and St Louis Middle School Choir, conducted by Caroline Cave.

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