Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled: Thoughts on Ministry to the Terminally Ill

Peace I bequeath of you, my own peace I give you, a peace the word cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)The role of a hospice is to assist the patient to carry his or her burden. The medical staff will do everything possible to deal with the patients physical pain, but often there are other forms of pain : loneliness, fear disbelief that this could happen, worries , about family and work, emotional pain, spiritual pain, pain of the soul. There is also questioning about how a loving God can allow something like this to happen. I perceive hospice chaplaincy as a ministry of accompaniment of the patient and the patients family - travelling the journey with them.