This year’s service of thanksgiving to commemorate and celebrate the life and work of Walsall nursing heroine Sister Dora is being postponed as communities continue to work together to minimise the infection risk of Covid-19.

It will be rearranged for a calmer time, potentially in the summer, when infection rates have fallen substantially and stabilised.  The service was due to take place this Sunday 17 January, the nearest Sunday to her birthday which falls on 16 January and traditionally attracts a good turnout from the public to the Crossing at St Paul’s in Darwall Street.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Chaplaincy Team leader Joe Fielder said: “This is an important service for  the people of Walsall as Sister Dora’s inspirational work during the 1860s and 1870s set the standard for healthcare locally.  Her contribution to nursing, her compassion and dedication, are her legacy that generations still model themselves on today.

“We hope people will be able to join us at a later date where we can come together and reflect on our experiences, remember those we have lost and commit ourselves afresh.”

Joe added that, inspired by Sister Dora, people could still take a few minutes to stop, either privately or with work colleagues, this Sunday and over the coming days commit themselves to some TLC:

T -Thanks – look out for what others are doing to care for others and go out of your way to thank them. This can be verbally, via what’s app, or even a post it note. Look for ways to say thank you.  It’s good to be encouraging and to be encouraged so be ready to be thanked yourself too.

L –  Look out for those on the margins in your own particular setting. Commit yourself to care, include or support them.

C –  Check on yourself; pause to see how you are and how you’re doing after these challenging few months. Contact others for support, or simply for a chat.

And here’s a prayer that people can also use:

Watch now, dear Lord,

with those who wake or watch or weep tonight,

and give your angels charge over those who sleep.

Tend your sick ones, rest your weary ones,

bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones,

pity your afflicted ones and shield your joyous ones.

And now may the God of hope fill us all with his blessing

and grant us the strength to care for his people.  Amen.