“Blessing of the Hands” — honoring nurses

Sample “Blessing of the Hands” services for hospitals

“The Human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in giving of one’s self to others that we truly live.”
— Ethel Percy Andrus

Taking a “Blessing of the Hands” to a healthcare facility can be a very important way to demonstrate a collaborative spirit and openness to partnership.  Because the hospital is a place where people of many faiths work, it is very important that all language used be appropriate to an interfaith setting.  As the following examples show, there are meaningful words that will not exclude people of different faith groups.

Some hospitals will ask that a service of this type be held in the chapel.  Others will allow the services to be done on “the floor.”  In this case it is likely that more of the nurses will be able to participate, and attention to both meaning and brevity is important.

I. A Blessing Service from Pitt County Memorial Hospital (thanks to Alyson Breisch, RN, MSN )

Leader and Participants Read Together -
Blessed be the works of your hands, O Holy One.
Blessed be these hands that have touched life.
Blessed be these hands that have nurtured creativity.
Blessed be these hands that have held pain.
Blessed be these hands that have embraced with passion.
Blessed be these hands that have tended gardens.
Blessed be these hands that have closed in anger.
Blessed be these hands that have planted new seeds.
Blessed be these hands that have carried out endless tasks as part of caring for our community.
Blessed be these hands that have reached out and been received.
Blessed be the hands that hold the promise of the future.
Blessed be the works of your hands, O Holy One.
(adapted from “ In Praise of Hands” by Diann Neu, Waterwheel, Winter, 1989)

When we reach our hands out to provide care, to do our work as part of the care of others, we are saying to others, You are important to us, and you are cared for by the efforts of many who value you and your needs.

Holding your hands in front of you observe their appearance and think of all that you do with your hands each day which contributes to the care of the health care needs of our community.

You have chosen to bless others with your hands in the work you do.
Now we are going to bless your hands in recognition of the Holiness of what you do everyday.
(Placing your right hand in the palm of your left extend your hands to receive the Blessing.)

Leader:  “Oh Holy God, Bless these hands that they may continue to be a Blessing to Others.” Amen

Leader to the Nurses:  In silence say the following prayer before you return to work.

Holy God, may your presence be in all that I do. Renew in me awareness of your sustaining love that touches me each day, opening the eyes of my heart to see that you touch the world through the work of my hands.  Amen.

II. An Interfaith Service from Pitt County Memorial Hospital (thanks to Alyson Breisch, RN, MSN)

Gathering

L: There are many names for God. Regardless of the tradition, God is God. We come to this service of blessing and invite God to be with us.
God of Health and God of Healing, be with us in this time of blessing.  Amen.

Litany

L: This is Holy ground.
P: We’re standing on Holy ground.
L: For God is present.
P: And where God is, is Holy.
L: These are Holy hands.
P: God’s given us Holy hands.
L: God works through these hands.
P: And so these hands are Holy.
L: Where God is, is Holy.
P: The work of our hands is Holy work.

Blessing of the Oil

L: Holy God, as oil was used as a base for medicine in ancient times, we ask you to bless our use of this oil today. May its texture remind us that the soothing work of our hands is also pleasing to you.  Amen.

Blessing of the Hands (select one appropriate to setting)
May the work of your hands bring healing to all the people you touch. [or]
May the God who formed these hands guide them to bring the healing touch of life. [or]
Holy God, bless these hands to be instruments of healing. [or]
Blessings and appreciation of the many tasks these hands can do.

Scattering (dismissal)

L: God blesses our hands for service.
P: We receive the strength offered by our Creator.
L: Let us also receive the vision to see with the eyes of our hearts.
P: And the courage to persevere in difficult times.
L: May all whose lives we touch come to know God’s love.
P: May that same love be a consolation to us.
L: Let us return to our duties with blessed hands that are joyously spontaneous as well as  meticulously reliable.
P: We go, renewed and refreshed, dedicating our hands, our heart, and our sense of humor to bring healing to those we meet.

III. A Blessing for Nurses from Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Missouri

(Used with permission of the writer – Sue Wintz, BCC, Phoenix, Arizona)

May you be blessed with a spirit of gentleness and a heart that is tender.
May you be blessed with a spirit of strength shining within you.
May you be blessed with a spirit of compassion and a fervent caring.
May you be blessed with a spirit of courage, daring to be who you are.
May you be blessed with a spirit of openness, understanding, and respect.

May the earth hold you.
May the wind lift you ever up.
May the fire draw and warm you.
May the water soothe your soul.

L: Blessed be these hands that have touched life.
Blessed be these hands that have felt pain.

P: Blessed be these hands that have embraced with compassion.
Blessed be these hands that have been clenched in anger, or withdrawn in fear.

L: Blessed be these hands that have drawn blood and administered medicine.
Blessed be these hands that have cleaned beds and disposed of wastes.

P: Blessed be these hands that have anointed the sick and offered blessings.
Blessed be these hands that grow stiff with age.

L: Blessed be these hands that have comforted the dying and held the dead.
Blessed be these hands, we hold the future in these hands.