Difficult Seasons

Photo Credit: Dan A'Vard

Taking time and doing specific things to remember those we’ve lost is an important part of our ongoing healing process.

The church we’re part of has had a Service of Remembrance for a long time now during the Christmas season.  It’s a time for those of us who have lost loved ones, whether recent or in the distant past, to come together for a few minutes to remember.

There’s something powerful about gathering in community for this purpose.  Part of the power is the reminder that we are not alone in grieving the loss of someone precious to us.  We’re surrounded by others who are in the same boat.

But it’s also powerful to get to say the name of the person or persons that we’re remembering out loud as part of the group, something we do as part of the service.  For me, it’s both a way to honor those folks, as well as a reminder to me of how many dearly loved people have passed from our community’s life.

Our service is simple.  Some music, some prayers, lighting of a memorial candle and calling the names of those being remembered, some quiet reflection time, and some responsive readings from scripture.  But it’s comforting, and it’s important.

If you’re in the Houston area, you’re welcome to join us.  The service is in the chapel at First Colony Church of Christ at 4:00 pm on Sunday, December 21.  And if you’re not in our area and would like to attend a similar service, just check with your local churches or hospitals, as many groups host these events during the holiday season.

Tags: candle lighting, remembering

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 4:47 am and is filed under Grief and Grieving. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.