Whether we ignore it, deny it, resist it, or accept it—death touches every life. All living things carry within them the certainty of their own ending. And whether loss comes suddenly, gradually (as with Alzheimer’s), or remains ambiguous, it almost always brings grief. In this interactive sermon, we’ll explore the invitation that loss offers us: to either meet it as openhearted visitors, or to turn away and risk being tossed about in the storm of unresolved sorrow. We’ll consider how grief and praise can help us more clearly see—and celebrate—the gifts of life. Together, we’ll explore how compassion, forgiveness, and connection can guide us back to peace, acceptance, and even joy.

Jeffry has been a trained grief facilitator for children who have lost a parent. In 1996, he created and led a memorial service for his mother at Mount Zion Synagogue in St. Paul, MN, and has presented on grief and healing at Temple Israel in Minneapolis.

Topics: Grief, Spirituality