mainstream Christianity by rejecting the groups to share highlights of their discussion. idea of eternal damnation. Record on newsprint. Activity 2: Journaling (15 minutes) Unitarian Universalist memorial services and funerals are moving occasions. Call attention to the available color pencils, Because our tradition has no of “one way” markers, pens, and pencils. Invite participants to doing funerals, our ministers are able to write or draw, responding individually in their create personalized services that mourn journals to the questions and discussions in the and celebrate the unique individual who has group. What rituals and practices do they observe died. at the time of the death of a loved one? What rituals Invite comments and observations about the and practices are important to observe at the time health-care workers guide from Australia and the of their own death? Ideally, what role does family piece from the UUA website. Ask: play at the time of death and bereavement? What did you find surprising or intriguing in Activity 3: Near-Death Experiences your reading? (30 minutes) What made you want to know more? Share this quote from of Near-Death “The Science If participants are familiar with the traditions by Gideon Lichfield: Experiences” highlighted in the booklet or with any not As medical technology continues to mentioned, invite them to share additional bringing people back from ever improve, it’s information. Allow about 15 minutes for this part of closer to the brink of death. A small, lucky the activity. handful of people have made full or nearly Then, invite participants to form groups of three. full recoveries after spending hours with no Post the questions you have written on newsprint. breath or pulse, buried in snow or Allow 15 minutes for triads to share reflections. submerged in very cold water. Surgeons Then gather the larger group and invite small sometimes create these conditions
mainstream Christianity by rejecting the idea of eternal damnation. Unitarian Universalist memorial services and funerals are moving occasions. Because our tradition has no “one way” of doing funerals, our ministers are able to create personalized services that mourn and celebrate the unique individual who has died. Invite comments and observations about the health-care workers guide from Australia and the piece from the UUA website. Ask: What did you find surprising or intriguing in your reading? What made you want to know more? If participants are familiar with the traditions highlighted in the booklet or with any not mentioned, invite them to share additional information. Allow about 15 minutes for this part of the activity. Then, invite participants to form groups of three. Post the questions you have written on newsprint. Allow 15 minutes for triads to share reflections. Then gather the larger group and invite small groups to share highlights of their discussion. Record on newsprint. Activity 2: Journaling (15 minutes) Call attention to the available color pencils, markers, pens, and pencils. Invite participants to write or draw, responding individually in their journals to the questions and discussions in the group. What rituals and practices do they observe at the time of the death of a loved one? What rituals and practices are important to observe at the time of their own death? Ideally, what role does family play at the time of death and bereavement? Activity 3: Near-Death Experiences (30 minutes) Share this quote from “The Science of Near-Death Experiences” by Gideon Lichfield: As medical technology continues to improve, it’s bringing people back from ever closer to the brink of death. A small, lucky handful of people have made full or nearly full recoveries after spending hours with no breath or pulse, buried in snow or submerged in very cold water. Surgeons sometimes create these conditions