Memorial Service 3

I’m loving the blog page for open discussion. I will have to wait a little longer before publishing information in the E-News so that people will not be confused.

The Memorial Service for those who have lost children by any means has met with great support and even some regional attention. Here is the current plan.

On September 9^th and running for three weeks through September 23^rd we will offer a group setting for conversation around the death of your child starting at 9:30 am the Conference Room upstairs in the office building. The pastor (Rev. Ray) and Betty Bergstrom (a licensed counselor and one who has experienced the loss of a miscarriage twice) will facilitate this discussion group.

Also on Sunday, September 9^th, in the afternoon and again on September 23^rd, if needed, we will offer some one on two sessions. We will offer half-an-hour sessions with the pastor and Betty beginning at 12:30 pm and ending at 2:30 pm. These meetings will be in the pastor’s office. If we fill up the 9^th we will take appointments for the 23^rd. Please contact Rev. Ray to set up one of these sessions.

This is not meant to be an all encompassing event that will set everything right. It has been my experience that most everyone experiences death differently. This is only meant to help us to begin to or continue to deal with our loss, the death of a child.

The Memorial Service itself has been scheduled for Sunday evening at 6 pm in the Sanctuary, September 30^th. Some of the features of this service will include a time for anyone to speak but no one has to speak. Supportive words and Scriptures will be shared by the pastor. We will also have a basket with a blanket in it. We would encourage those who attend to write a letter to their child or grandchild and to place that letter in the basket at a time during the service. We will plan to bury the letters in the churchyard somewhere and place a marker there or plant a memorial tree. We plan to have a worship service as we cry out to God to help us heal from our hurts. As the church we also want to pledge our support to those in pain and to repent for not doing more in the past to help heal the wounds.

If you have experienced this hurt or know anyone in the community who has, please invite them. If you would simply like to help others heal from their pain, let me know. God will use us all to heal one another.