If you don’t have one, you have likely seen one. If you haven’t been blessed by one, you know someone who has. If you don’t have one and want one, let me know! And if you’ve always wondered what they are and where they come from … well, I’m here to tell ya’!
Upon my arrival in September, 2006 as a Staff Chaplain at Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth, I was blessed to bring with me a ministry that was quite simple, but powerfully touching and moving: “Prayer Beads.” The impact on patients, families, and hospital staff, has proven to be as amazing in Fort Worth as it was in East Texas. Even by the most conservative count, THFW Chaplains and staff members are presenting 6,000 prayer beads a year to staff, and patients and their loved ones, in times of crisis – a total of at least 15,000 in three years! No grand announcements and no publicity – simply word-of-mouth and heart-to-heart.
Our prayer beads are similar in design to what is known as an “Anglican” prayer bead, originated by an Anglican priest in the very early 1980's. When used more formally, the beads may be "prayed," similar to praying a Catholic rosary, or when being used as a meditation tool. For most Protestants they become a simple, tangible reminder of prayer and of God's presence, something to cling to when the storms of life are upon them. The beads are made to slip perfectly over a person’s finger, with the cross then resting gently in the palm of the hand.
The current incarnation (design) of the beads began nearly four years ago at my former hospital in Tyler, TX. Originally, pink or blue beads were given to parents whose baby died in the hospital. They quickly expanded to widespread use throughout the hospital, as Chaplains and other staff members gave them to patients and families who were often desperate and in the throes of tremendous crisis. The beads have been sent to people across our nation, they have travelled around the world to American troops in Iraq, and they have been replicated by teams of people in mission fields!
When given to a staff member, the beads are given with an “assignment.” The person is told that the beads are not theirs to keep; rather, they are to be passed on to someone in need. When they see someone in crisis, they are asked to take their beads and respectively and gently offer and explain the beads. If accepted, they place them in the person’s hand, and say something like: "These were a gift to me. Now, they are my gift to you, to remind you of God's love, comfort, and His presence with you." Many folks offer to pay for the beads. But part of the beauty and essence of the prayer beads has always been that they are a gift …a gift of love, care, concern, and compassion.
One of the most meaningful moments of the ministry is when a staff member asks for a new one, saying she/he gave theirs to someone in real need. Of course, we've also given them to our own employees when they were the ones in need. Chaplains presented over 100 nurses and others who were grieving the cancer diagnosis of a long-time nurse on their unit, as well as the death of a co-worker’s sister. And I have yet to place a pink or blue one in the hand of a mother whose baby has just died, without seeing tears stream down her cheeks.
This remarkable story is one which involves not only hospital staff, but our faith community, as well. First, my Chaplain friends in Tyler generously supplied us with beads during my first several months here. Then, a lady from Genesis UMC gave countless hours of her time to purchasing supplies and training volunteers all over town when we first began making beads locally. Those involved in making them have included our own nurses, groups at churches of various Christian faiths, and even a group of teens at a small inner-city Baptist church.
The Prayer Beads Ministry volunteers are currently spearheaded by one of our Faith Community Nurses at University Christian Church, Joanie Grimm, and her daughter, Gail Murray, who is serving as one of our hospital volunteers, as well. Gail has now involved at least two of our Chaplains in the process, as well as other ladies throughout the hospital. In addition, we have been blessed by very generous and much-needed funding gifts from the Harris Auxiliary and University Christian Church, and also by heartfelt gifts from various individuals on staff.
There are so many heart-tugging “prayer beads stories” that could be told. So many stories...so much pain...so much healing and comfort...so much love – “Tiny messengers" from God, a gift of someone's heart, created and made by the loving, caring hands of volunteers who do so knowing they will not see the faces, or know the names, of those whose lives they bless. It is amazing to watch and witness the love and power of God touch people’s hearts through such a simple gift.
If you would like to know more, please contact me (817-250-2092) or any of our Chaplains.
Upon my arrival in September, 2006 as a Staff Chaplain at Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth, I was blessed to bring with me a ministry that was quite simple, but powerfully touching and moving: “Prayer Beads.” The impact on patients, families, and hospital staff, has proven to be as amazing in Fort Worth as it was in East Texas. Even by the most conservative count, THFW Chaplains and staff members are presenting 6,000 prayer beads a year to staff, and patients and their loved ones, in times of crisis – a total of at least 15,000 in three years! No grand announcements and no publicity – simply word-of-mouth and heart-to-heart.
Our prayer beads are similar in design to what is known as an “Anglican” prayer bead, originated by an Anglican priest in the very early 1980's. When used more formally, the beads may be "prayed," similar to praying a Catholic rosary, or when being used as a meditation tool. For most Protestants they become a simple, tangible reminder of prayer and of God's presence, something to cling to when the storms of life are upon them. The beads are made to slip perfectly over a person’s finger, with the cross then resting gently in the palm of the hand.
The current incarnation (design) of the beads began nearly four years ago at my former hospital in Tyler, TX. Originally, pink or blue beads were given to parents whose baby died in the hospital. They quickly expanded to widespread use throughout the hospital, as Chaplains and other staff members gave them to patients and families who were often desperate and in the throes of tremendous crisis. The beads have been sent to people across our nation, they have travelled around the world to American troops in Iraq, and they have been replicated by teams of people in mission fields!
When given to a staff member, the beads are given with an “assignment.” The person is told that the beads are not theirs to keep; rather, they are to be passed on to someone in need. When they see someone in crisis, they are asked to take their beads and respectively and gently offer and explain the beads. If accepted, they place them in the person’s hand, and say something like: "These were a gift to me. Now, they are my gift to you, to remind you of God's love, comfort, and His presence with you." Many folks offer to pay for the beads. But part of the beauty and essence of the prayer beads has always been that they are a gift …a gift of love, care, concern, and compassion.
One of the most meaningful moments of the ministry is when a staff member asks for a new one, saying she/he gave theirs to someone in real need. Of course, we've also given them to our own employees when they were the ones in need. Chaplains presented over 100 nurses and others who were grieving the cancer diagnosis of a long-time nurse on their unit, as well as the death of a co-worker’s sister. And I have yet to place a pink or blue one in the hand of a mother whose baby has just died, without seeing tears stream down her cheeks.
This remarkable story is one which involves not only hospital staff, but our faith community, as well. First, my Chaplain friends in Tyler generously supplied us with beads during my first several months here. Then, a lady from Genesis UMC gave countless hours of her time to purchasing supplies and training volunteers all over town when we first began making beads locally. Those involved in making them have included our own nurses, groups at churches of various Christian faiths, and even a group of teens at a small inner-city Baptist church.
The Prayer Beads Ministry volunteers are currently spearheaded by one of our Faith Community Nurses at University Christian Church, Joanie Grimm, and her daughter, Gail Murray, who is serving as one of our hospital volunteers, as well. Gail has now involved at least two of our Chaplains in the process, as well as other ladies throughout the hospital. In addition, we have been blessed by very generous and much-needed funding gifts from the Harris Auxiliary and University Christian Church, and also by heartfelt gifts from various individuals on staff.
There are so many heart-tugging “prayer beads stories” that could be told. So many stories...so much pain...so much healing and comfort...so much love – “Tiny messengers" from God, a gift of someone's heart, created and made by the loving, caring hands of volunteers who do so knowing they will not see the faces, or know the names, of those whose lives they bless. It is amazing to watch and witness the love and power of God touch people’s hearts through such a simple gift.
If you would like to know more, please contact me (817-250-2092) or any of our Chaplains.
Jim Tenery / Staff Chaplain, BCC
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