ABSTRACT
The importance of silence during services of worship has long been debated down the centuries. Yet, in the context of hospice chaplaincy, periods of silence in a short chapel service may be unfamiliar and perhaps even unwelcomed by some. This is a theological reflection of an encounter where silence was permitted and how it unexpectedly created an opportunity for one patient to be moved emotionally and spiritually. Briefly exploring experiences of stillness and silence in various contexts, consideration is also given as to how I, as chaplain, responded to what I sensed God’s Spirit was enabling. This experience perhaps raises further questions that are not addressed here but, overall, I have concluded that periods of silence prepared for and led well can offer a safe space for patients to encounter the presence of God in the midst of personal crises.
