Accompanying the

Dying
 Ministry to the
dying entails
accompanying
both individuals
and communities
Body of Christ: the living and the dead
The local church – parish, school,
care facility
Friends and personal
community
Health care team
Family
The
dying
person
Where do you
stand in
relationship to
the dying?
Friends and personal community

Health care team

Family

The dying
person
What is your assessment of the situation? How
are they experiencing dying and death?
Inevitable To be avoided

Natural Unnatural

Family Sleep Punishment for sin

The dying
person Process/journey Enemy

Friend To be feared

Gateway to new life Failure

What is their “religious” or “spiritual”
language?
Christian

Other religious traditions

Secular
The goal
A good death will be one where the person The mercy of God
receives…
A lively hope of eternal life
Surrenders his or her life to God
Reconciles with God and others
Accepts death and experiences peace

Speaking of Dying, 165

How to move toward a good death?

Prayer
Listenand
Understand to
therituals
stories
emotions
What not to do….
Denial
Fail to be present
Change the subject
 Listen to their stories and what they
might want to say
forgive
Address
needs of
others

Lament

Grieve
Hope and
trust in
Express God
physical
needs
Commit
to God
Accept
the end
 Respond with the Christian story and
prayer
forgive What is the healing the dying seek?
Address
needs of
others

Lament

Grieve
Hope and
trust in
Express God
physical
needs
Commit
to God

Accept
the end
 Respond with the Christian story and
prayer
TYPES OF PRAYER
forgive LAMENT
Address
needs of SILENCE
others

Lament MEMORIES
Grieve CONFESSION
GRATITUDE
Hope and
trust in
Express
physical
God TRUST
needs
Commit
to God
What is the healing the dying seek?
Accept
the end
Be a facilitator and an advocate
Guide and form conscience
Arbitrate between the groups
Consult with guide health care team and offer
care
Walk with each group as they experience
Friends and personal community
death and grief
Health care team

Family
The dying
person
Preach and teach a theology of dying
based on Jesus’ story
Born to live and die
Undertook mission knowing he could die
Our main problem is not dying but becoming
children of God

Body of Christ: the living and the

Jesus did not want to die and experienced
dead anguish
The local church – parish,
school, care facility He became the Bread of Life
The dying His dying created a new reality
person

Speaking of Dying
Set the TABLE
T is for talk
A is for awareness
B is for the Body of Christ
L is for listening deeply
E is for Eucharist

Speaking of Dying
Body of Christ: the living and the
dead

The dying person