As Americans, we have a tendency to create distance between ourselves and the sadness of others and the grief that resides in ourselves. I'm not sure why that is, but I'm aware of the reality of it. The way we distance ourselves from the dying process is a manifestation of what I'm talking about. In fact, the only certainty of living (death) is for Americans turned into a cold and clinical experience and so often happens alone.
And yet as Christians, the overarching theme of our Story, God's Story, is that "all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." As the days get shorter and green things begin to die, we remember again those we love but see no longer and we might feel the pain of our own grief rising up. Consider bringing that pain and sadness to God and to your church community. We'll remember those who have died at our regularly scheduled liturgies on Sunday, November 1.
Consider bringing your own grief to Requiem: Prayers of Rest and Remembrance. It's a special liturgy featuring the music of Faure's Requiem with small orchestra and a choir gathered from Emmanuel and several other congregations. There will be a chance to place a memento of a person or event that you're grieving. We'll gather at Emmanuel, 6pm, on November 1. Invite a friend.
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