Grave talk
“Isn’t this a bit morbid? Shouldn’t we be trying to lift people’s spirits?” may be your first response when you hear that churches are offering Grave Talk every week on Zoom.
There are so many uplifting things on the media to raise our spirits and it’s likely that we are all going to them for escapism. However, it doesn’t change the reality that our way of life is currently shaped by the fact that we are mortal and trying to deal with a pandemic that has already claimed thousands of lives. So, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to find ourselves, from time to time, reflecting on and wanting to talk about death, dying and funerals.
Back in 2015, the Church of England recognised that it isn’t easy to talk about death and related issues, and so developed Grave Talk. It offers a range of conversation starters, broken down into various subjects such as life, society and grief, to be used informally in a relaxed, café-style.
Some of the questions the Upper Tas Valley churches have already discussed include: What is your most memorable death in a film or a book? What would you like to do before you die? What music would you like at your funeral and many more besides…
Grave Talk in the Upper Tas can be accessed via Zoom at 11am on Tuesday mornings. It runs for a month and then begins again as a rolling programme. You will be very welcome to join in – everyone is very welcome – all you need to bring is a cup of coffee!
For more information or to access the Zoom codes, please get in touch with me at vicar.utvb@ gmail.com or ring 01953 788227.
The author...
The Revd Lydia Avery
Licensed clergy - Incumbent: Interim Priest in Charge, Upper Tas Valley (Benefice)
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