we only look, Write on newsprint and post: What were your impressions? with courage. What was expected? What was Call attention to the covenant you have posted and unexpected? ask participants to reaffirm their willingness to let it Did your views on death change, guide your time together. Assure participants that, and if so, how? together, the group will offer a welcoming and safe Did the visit affect your personal space for sharing their creative expressions. plans for your own death? Activity 1: Field Trip Reflections (35 Set out candles for closing. minutes) Review and implement as appropriate for your group and space. Invite participants to share insights, comments, and Optional: Arrange for display of creative observations from your field trip to the funeral expressions in your congregation’s building. home, cemetery, or crematorium and record them Opening (5 minutes) on newsprint. If the group includes participants who did not make the field trip, invite others to fill in Light the chalice and share these words from Rev. details. Call attention to the questions you have Kate Walker: posted and lead a discussion, inviting participants With courage we turn to look, to respond. with fear and love pulling us forward, Activity 2: Sharing Creative Expressions and Process (45 death will greet us one day. minutes) We look, but we do not welcome, Invite participants, one at a time, to share their creative expressions and the process that led to the not this time, work they are sharing. Ask participants to give each not next time, other the gift of attentive listening during each
Write on newsprint and post: What were your impressions? What was expected? What was unexpected? Did your views on death change, and if so, how? Did the visit affect your personal plans for your own death? Set out candles for closing. Review and implement as appropriate for your group and space. Optional: Arrange for display of creative expressions in your congregation’s building. Opening (5 minutes) Light the chalice and share these words from Rev. Kate Walker: With courage we turn to look, with fear and love pulling us forward, death will greet us one day. We look, but we do not welcome, not this time, not next time, we only look, with courage. Call attention to the covenant you have posted and ask participants to reaffirm their willingness to let it guide your time together. Assure participants that, together, the group will offer a welcoming and safe space for sharing their creative expressions. Activity 1: Field Trip Reflections (35 minutes) Invite participants to share insights, comments, and observations from your field trip to the funeral home, cemetery, or crematorium and record them on newsprint. If the group includes participants who did not make the field trip, invite others to fill in details. Call attention to the questions you have posted and lead a discussion, inviting participants to respond. Activity 2: Sharing Creative Expressions and Process (45 minutes) Invite participants, one at a time, to share their creative expressions and the process that led to the work they are sharing. Ask participants to give each other the gift of attentive listening during each
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