![\"Tracey](\"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/tracey-williams_2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nI would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the Dementia Service on Sunday. I fully appreciate it can be extremely distressing if you are living with or caring for someone who has been diagnosed with a particular form of this disease. There are various types of Dementia and every individual\u2019s needs change throughout their journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We at St Chad\u2019s have just started our journey as a Dementia Friendly Church. My welcome and introduction included the three aims to obtain our first year certificate: to appoint a Dementia Co-ordinator (me), provide an information notice board and other resources (not everyone is able to access online information) and lastly hold a Dementia Themed service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I researched appropriate prayers and chose two familiar interactive hymns. The initial hymn was \u201cHe has the whole world in his hands\u201d and encouraged the relevant hand movements. The Statement of Faith was Psalm 23. The 2 videos shown were from a compilation of 11 of how a particular family adapted to care for their father. For those who would like to see the full story the link is https:\/\/youtu.be\/DuLPP4yjfeM?si=2WFBEd_tvUtBqyZ7<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The second hymn was \u201cShine Jesus Shine\u201d, another interactive hymn. Dorothy then proceeded with Intercessions inclusive of prayers for Dementia and related to Psalm 23 bringing the service together. The third hymn \u201c10,000 reasons\u201d was chosen for the wonderful lyrics and joyful tune. I then invited my son-in-law Kearon to sing \u201cYou Raise me up\u201d, he did a wonderful job despite suffering from a cold all week!<\/p>\n\n\n Following communion led by Reverend Paul Brown we had Tea\/Coffee and Forget-Me-Not cupcakes and yes they were made in between two 12 hour shifts! (you plan to do these things and then realise you are at work the 2 days prior to the service!) There was opportunity to chat and obtain valuable feedback. I am more than happy to meet up for coffee and a chat either individually or as a group (in confidence of course) if you would like to. We dearly want to know what we can do for you and how we can move forward with our Dementia support next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big thank you to Martin Fox for his musical input and guidance to Kearon and to Martin\u2019s wife, Cath, for accompanying him on the piano with her flute, to Mike Richards as always for the technical input and to my right hand woman Dorothy Steel for her positivity and constant support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tracey Williams Photography by Dorothy Steel<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n More information about Dementia Friendly Church and resources is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Family Service on Sunday 5th November 2023 had a Dementia theme. Tracey Williams, our Dementia Co-ordinator, who led the service writes: I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the Dementia Service on Sunday. I fully appreciate it can be extremely distressing if you are living with … <\/p>\n<\/a>
Dementia Co-ordinator<\/p>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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