Over 30 of Ros’s colleagues, friends and family joined together for a licensing service of the Revd Dr Ros Lane as Senior Chaplain, and ‘Heart and Soul’ lead for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT). The service was led by the Rt Revd Dr Dagmar Winter, Acting Bishop of Ely, and the Rt Revd John Holbrook, Bishop of Brixworth (now retired), with Ros receiving license to minister in both Ely and Peterborough Dioceses. Prayers were offered by Ros’s colleagues for the work of the Heart and Soul community, a poem by Mary Oliver read aloud, and welcomes to her new role given from volunteers and staff .
Symbols of ministry were places upon the altar as part of the celebration and licensing service - oil for healing, water of life, bread and wine, the word of God, the light of the world, music and arts as the gifts of creation. The service was followed by light refreshments in the café and conversation amongst friends. I caught up with Ros after the service to ask her about the licensing and her new role.
What does this licencing mean to you?
It’s a new start. it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring people together in the heart and soul community, but for also for CPFT and the diocese(s) and to have relationship together.
What will your day today ministry look like in this role?
So my day to day ministry in this role is going to be quite varied. As the senior chaplain I have care for my whole team and for all the heart and soul volunteers, that’s my that’s my priority; but it’s to be a “human face” if you like, around this place here in Cambridge, but also over in Peterborough. And particularly to bring some joy and some hope and some light into the life of those who find this their home just at the moment.
I have a particular ministry for our staff here and our volunteers. We couldn’t run this service without them. We have 40 of our own volunteers and there’s 450 volunteers in the trust as a whole. I think it’s incredible, people’s generosity it’s just amazing.