*We apologize for the change, but this workshop has been canceled at the request of the workshop leader.
The reality is that we know very little about death. It’s the greatest mystery know to humankind! The certainty that we will die, coupled with the complete uncertainty of when, how, or what (if anything) happens next is truly a fantastic paradox. We live in a death-denying culture. Our personal relationships with death impact how we show up on behalf of others during times of death and/or the dying process. How the church responds to the particular needs of its congregation, its community, as it relates to caregiving and walking alongside those directly affected by death, or are in the dying process themselves, is reflective of who the church is called to be “on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10b) – as the living embodiment of the “new heaven and new earth” (Rev. 21:1).
Through critical discussion as a means to explore the theory and practice of group talk, this workshop aims to achieve the following purposes:
- To help participants reach a more theologically and critically informed understanding about death and dying.
- To act as a catalyst in helping people take informed action in journeying alongside others – as spiritual caregivers – during times of death and dying.
Centering the question, “What must one do to be at peace with themself so that they may live presently and die gracefully?” participants will engage in theologically-grounded, critical discussion as a way to build connections; with the goal of learning how to identify and use their spiritual gifts in support of care seekers during their most vulnerable time of need.