RESOURCES FOR WORLD AIDS DAY – 1 December

Taking off our rose-coloured glasses – resources for worship, prayer, study and action; produced by the Church of Scotland’s HIV/AIDS Project. The 50-page booklet is available to download in Word or PDF formats

http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/boards/worldmission/wmhivresources.htm

hard copies £2.50 each from the Board of World Mission, Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH10 4BD (0131 225 5722).

Christian Aid Travellers’ tales: Journeying alongside people with HIV

Ninety-five per cent of all HIV-positive people live in developing countries. These stories and reflections for World AIDS Day (1 December)

include an outline order of service.

When a person has HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS poses challenges for everyone. People of all races, cultures and religions are involved. When a person is diagnosed with the virus you may feel helpless or inadequate.

Try not to avoid your friend.

Touch your friend.

Call and ask if it is OK to visit. Let your friend make the decision. He/she may not feel up to a visitor that day. Now is a time when your friendship can help keep fear and loneliness at a distance.

Respond to your friend’s emotions. Weep when he/she weeps. Laugh when he/she laughs. These experiences enrich you both.

Suggest a walk or outing.

Call your friend and find out if they need help with shopping.

Celebrate holidays and life with your friend by offering to decorate the home or hospital room.

Talk with your friend’s partner, lover or carer. They may need a break from time to time. Invite them out. They may need someone to talk with as well.

Share books, periodicals, taped music, a poster for the wall … All of these can bring warmth and joy.

Be sensitive as to whether your friend wants to discuss his/her illness.

Like everyone else a person with HIV/ AIDS can have good and bad days.

You don’t always have to talk. Just sit together silently reading, listening to music, watching television … holding hands. Much can be expressed without words.

Transport may be needed to a treatment centre… to the shops… to the doctor… or perhaps a day out.

Encourage your friend to be in control of his/her life and to make decisions.

Remember, anger and frustration are often taken out on the people most loved because it’s safe and will be understood.

Keep your friend up to date on mutual friends and other common interests.

Discuss current events. Help keep your friend aware of what is happening in the world.

Offer to do household chores. This may be appreciated more than you realise. However, don’t do what your friend can do for her/himself. Ask before doing anything.

Spirituality is important at all times. If your friend is religious, be sensitive to his/ her needs.

Don’t lecture your friend if he/she seems to be handling the illness in a way that you think is inappropriate.

Do not confuse acceptance of the virus with defeat. This acceptance may free your friend and give a sense of her/his own power.

Don’t allow your friend or those who care for him/her to become isolated. Help them find out about support groups and other practical services in their locality.

Talk about the future with your friend … tomorrow, next week, next year.

A loving family member can be a source of strength. By being a friend you are a part of the family. Have a positive attitude. It’s catching.

Prayer of Commitment

Loving God, you show yourself to those who are vulnerable and make your home with the poor and the weak of this world. Warm our hearts with the fire of your Spirit. Help us to accept the challenges of HIV and AIDS.

Protect the healthy, calm the frightened, give courage to those in pain, comfort the dying and give to the dead eternal life. Console the bereaved, strengthen those who care for the sick.

May we, and all the communities we belong to, use all our energy and imagination to be united with one another in conquering all disease and fear.

Amen.

Resources

CARA (Care and resources for people affected by HIV/AIDS) 95 Sirdar Road, London W1 1 4EQ Offers spiritual, emotional and practical support to all affected by the HIV/AIDS virus; training courses for clergy and other pastoral carers.

Christian Aid Website

Worship material, reports and other resources available to download or on request.

Church of Scotland HIV/AIDS Project Website Resources, including worship material and photo display available to download or on request.

Commitment for Life/Going Global Website

Mothers’ Union Website

National AIDS Trust Website

Fact sheets, stories and campaign resources.

Produced by the HIV/AIDS Working Group, Church and Society, United Reformed Church, Inside page adapted, with permission, from an original leaflet prepared by Catholic AIDS Link.

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