You are more than your body, and being well involves your mind and spirit as well as your physical health. When you or someone you love are sick or injured, you may have a variety of needs and concerns.
How can a Chaplain help me?
For many people, being able to talk with someone about what you are going through is helpful as you try to make difficult decisions, experience pain or grief, or come to terms with unexpected changes.
A hospital chaplain will focus on what matters most to you right now.
We will listen with kindness and respect to understand what you believe, and what your values are.
Some people want support based on their religious faith, and some people find meaning in other ways. No matter what you believe,
- if you want a compassionate listener …
- if you want support to work through a decision …
- if you want spiritual support …
- if your pain needs to be heard …
- if life is hard and you want to tell someone about it …
- if death has come for a loved one …
- if you need help to contact your support system or faith community …
You can ask a nurse to contact a chaplain.
At night and weekends, we provide crisis care for needs that can't wait for the next weekday.
Messages can also be left at the Chaplaincy Services office 540-689-1670, and will be answered on the next business day.
Sentara Palliative Care services and Sentara Hospice services both include professional chaplains as part of the team of caregivers available to you.
Meditative Space
CHAPEL - the hospital chapel is located on the second floor in the area above the gift shop in the main lobby. The chapel is a space apart from the busy patient care areas. There is comfortable seating and a view of mountains to help you relax as you think, journal, pray or just soothe yourself with quiet.
The chapel also include a small prayer room where you can close the door and stand, sit, or kneel if you want to pray in privacy.
LABYRINTH - an outdoor labyrinth is outside the hospital dining room, just beyond the fountain area. For centuries people have found that walking a labyrinth is helpful for prayer, meditation, or mindfulness. Look for the brochure holder located near the labyrinth for ideas on how to use it.
RELIGIOUS RESOURCES
Several resources are available in the chapel. Prayer rugs are available at the front desk. Qibla is marked on the ceiling of the prayer room.