A thanksgiving service and dinner was held on Sabbath, November 19, to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of doctors, nurses and allied health staff at Sydney Adventist Hospital.
The dinner, organised by the San’s Spiritual Care Services team, began with praise and worship and a welcome address by senior chaplain Pastor Steve Stephenson.
Thirty-one Certificates of Appreciation were awarded primarily to nursing unit managers and departmental leaders who have traversed many difficulties over the past two years with staff shortages, supply uncertainties and the challenge of COVID-19 patients and isolation requirements. A further category, the “Tom Ludowici Leadership Award”, was presented to Adventist HealthCare Limited (AHCL) Board chairman and South Pacific Division president, Pastor Glenn Townend, ACHL CEO Brett Goods, chief operations and nursing executive Clare Lumley and director of mission integration Christina Hawkins.
A message was shared by Dr Beth Grant, who was the guest speaker for the San’s 2022 Spiritual Care Week of Prayer, which concluded with the thanksgiving dinner.
Other highlights from the evening were musical performances individually and as a group by Marleta Fong, Sanja Kitevski, Dr Narko Tutuo and Jana Lombart, a message of thanks and prayer of consecration by Pastor Townend, and the launch of a new hospital resource, Pure in Heart, a book of prayers edited by chaplain Katherine Rod.
Combined with a lovely dinner, video presentations by grateful patients and a unique opportunity by San staff to fellowship together, the function was a happy and inspiring occasion. All who attended the event were given a copy of Pure in Heart.
