Within a week's time, the nation and members of the Church of the Brethren have witnessed two very different experiences of death with the passing of Terri Schiavo and Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul's death came after a long life of service as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and years of deteriorating health. Schiavo, a Florida woman who had been declared in a "vegetative state," died after her feeding tube was removed by court order, and after years of legal battles between her husband and parents regarding her condition and care.
These two different experiences of death have caused many people to begin discussing the theological and practical aspects of their own end of life. Equally important, Schiavo and Pope John Paul II's deaths have spurred families and friends to begin talking with one another about their wishes and plans at their end of life.
The 1997 Annual Conference End-of-Life Decision-Making Statement reflects the Church of the Brethren's views about end of life. The Association of Brethren Caregivers helped to form the statement, which affirms that "we do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord." (Romans 14:7-8) Retired seminary professor Graydon Snyder wrote five end-of-life study guides, which are available from Brethren Press. Articles about end-of-life have appeared in Caregiving, ABC's quarterly publication. The Winter 2000 issue was devoted to the topic. Also, ABC volunteers have provided other resources regarding end-of-life planning and events. All of these resources are provided here.
The Association of Brethren Caregivers affirms the Annual Conference Statement that "Spiritual growth can come from facing suffering and death honestly." The agency hopes that the resources provided here will help individuals consider their own end of life and that of their loved ones from a biblical and Brethren understanding.
Resources
Facing the Gray Areas in Dying
In 1997 Guy Wampler wrote a four-page article -- Facing the Gray Areas in Dying -- for a packet of End-of-Life Decision-Making resources produced by the Association of Brethren Caregivers. This article wonderfully articulates the many issues surrounding end-of-life decision making. It can be downloaded as a PDF file.
Caregiving Articles
In an article that appeared in the Fall 2004 issue of Caregiving, Sue Moore wrote about preparing for end of life. You can view this article in an HTML format here or download a PDF file.
In the article "Learn Ways to Get Your House in Order," Jim Replogle wrote about end-of-life preparations. This article appeared in the Winter 2000 issue of Caregiving and can be viewed in an HTML format here.
End-of-Life Preparations Worksheet
Sue Moore prepared a worksheet to help individuals prepare for end of life. This file can be downloaded as a PDF file.
Advanced Directives Link
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's website allows users to find the Advanced Directive for their state. To view this search area, link the NHPCO's website.
National Donor Sabbath
Each year, the Association of Brethren Caregivers encourages congregations to honor National Donor Sabbath, the second Sunday of every year or two weeks before Thanksgiving. This national program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which has information about the need for organ donors at its website. The 1993 Resolution on Organ and Tissue Donation Annual Conference is available to individuals and congregations. This statement can be viewed here.
Worship Resources
Scriptures
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will never die.” (John 11:26)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die ... (Ecclessiastes 3:1, 2)
The length of our days is 70 years, or 80 if we have the strength.” (Psalm 90:10)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me… (Psalm 23: 4)
What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?” (Ps. 89:40)
Death is the destiny of every man.” (Eccl 7:2)
The Lord…will swallow up death forever.” (Isaiah 25:8)
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (I Corinthians 15:26)
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” (Hosea 13:14)
the saying that is written will come true: ‘th has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’” (I Corinthians 15:54,55)
He will wipe away every tear from their eye. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelations 21:4)
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8)
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.’” (II Kings 20:1)
When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” (Genesis 49:33)
A Service of Consecration and Anointing
This service was designed for a parishiner who no longer sought the healing of her body and felt that she had accepted her impending death. She wanted anointing, but not in the traditional way. As she and her pastor talked, these are ideas that emerged. Her service was constructed around who she was as a person and where she was in her faith pilgrimage.
Such as service may be performed at the pastor's initiative, but only if the dying person is willing to participate. Whether to have this service may depend on where the person is in his or her faith journey, and how well she or he has accepted the dying process. The person needs to be ready to culminate the journey on earth. This service marks the time of passage.
Purpose: To consecreate or recognize a devotion to a purpose with deep solemnity and dedication.
Goal: To sanctify, purify, wash away, and cleanse sin, anxiety, emotional pain and physical pain.
Possible Elements: Story telling, anointing, hymns, prayers, thanksgiving, rededication to tasks of living that include dying, naming of gifts, intimate sharing, spontaneous laughter.
Benefits:
Celebration of the person's life while he or she is still living and able to enter into the celebration to some degree.
Time for affirmation of the person's faith and life.
Opportunity for the dying person to be surrounded by loving people who care.
Engagement with the community, at least to some degree, at a time when many dying people withdraw and become isolated.
Conscious commissioning or sending off on the journey.
Allowance for new and different ways for the anointing service to offer God's healing, strength and grace.
by Robert Blake and Donald Shank
Call to Worship
"Faith means that we have full confidence in the things we hope for; it means being certain of things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1)
We give thanks for those who have gone before us, that great cloud of witnesses who have lived out their faith in Jesus Christ,
Modeling the courage of entering an unknown future with confidence,
And enduring hardship without giving up their hope.
Lord God, fill us with that same courage and faithfulness.
Empower us to "run with perseverance the race that is set before us, our eyes fixed on Jesus." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Grant us the strength and wisdom of the saints who have gone before us; form us in the image of your son Jesus; renew your Spirit in us and among us.
So shall we lift our hearts and hands in joyful work and praise! Amen.
By Joel Kline
Invocation
O Lord our God, you have shown us how to live and to receive life in all its fullness; teach us also how to die and to offer the lives of those we love into your care. Through the suffering of loved ones, we struggle to know what is best and to decide what is right for their well-being. You alone know the possibilities and responsibilities we face, and you alone understand our hopes and fears.
Help us to see your loving presence in the midst of suffering. Help us to hear your voice of wisdom calling us beyond our hopes and fears. And help us to discern what is loving and wise in all our relationships. As the Lord of all life, we trust that you will see us through death to eternal life. Come to us, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
By Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm
Invocation Prayer
God of our strength, we come seeking your presence, that we might live with courage: even in the valley of the shadow, even when our cup runs dry, even when our fears run rampant. When our throats are dry with fear, may we be refreshed by your healing waters and strengthened by the good news that You are ever with us. Amen.
By Joel Kline
Unison Invocation
God of mornings and evenings, God of all times and places, we gather in this time and place to worship you.
As we reach to you, Holy One, bend to us. Stoop to our weakness; help us to love you as we ought.
God of springs and autumns, God of all seasons, we place the seasons of our lives in your hands. Hold us firmly but gently in your embrace.
Bless us, young and old alike, both now and in the times and seasons yet to be. Amen.
By Kenneth L. Gibble
Books
Arnold, Johann Chrisoph. I Tell You a Mystery: Life, Death and Eternity. Plough Publishing House, 1996.
Byock, Ira. Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life, 1998.
Callanan, Maggie and Patricia Kelley. Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs and Communications of the Dying. Bantam Books.
Cobb, John B., Jr. Matters of Life and Death. Louisville: W/JKP, 1991.
Dunn, Hank. Hard Choices for Loving People. A & A Publishers, Inc.; (703) 707-0169, www.hardchoices.com or e-mail AAPublish@aol.com.
Five Wishes. An advance directive that examines personal, emotional and spiritual needs, medical wishes, and helps individuals determine how they want to be treated if they are seriously ill. Published by Aging with Dignity, (888) 5WISHES, www.agingwithdignity.org.
Furman, Joan and David McNabb. The Dying Time: Practical Wisdom for the Dying and Their Caregivers. Published by Random House.
Geis, Sally B., and Donald E. Messer, eds. How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter. Nashville: A.A. Knopf, 1994.
Miller, James. What Will Help Me?: 12 Things to Remember When You Have Suffered a Loss. Willowgreen Publishers, 1994.
Morris, Virginia. Talking about Death Won’t Kill You. (New York: Workman, 2001).
Myer, Charles. Surviving Death: A Practical Guide to Caring for the Dying and Bereaved. Twenty Third Publishers; 1991.
Nuland, Sherwin. How We Die: Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter. (New York: Vintage Books, 1995).
Snyder, Graydon F. Health and Medicine in the Anabaptist Tradition: Care in Community. Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1995.
Starenko, Ronald C. God, Grass and Grace: A Theology of Death. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1975.
Tada, Joni Eareckson. When Is It Right to Die? Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1992.
Vaux, Kenneth L. Dying Well. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996.
Waters, Brent. Dying and Death: A Resource for Christian Reflection. Cleveland: United Church of Christ Press, 1996.
Westley, Dick. When It's Right to Die: Conflicting Voices, Difficult Choices. Mystic, Conn.: Twenty-Third Publications, 1995.
Books for Kids
Palmer, Pat and Dianne O'Quinn Burke. I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand. 1994.
Skeie, Eyvind and Anders Faarevag. Summerland. 1984.
Buscalglia, Leo. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf. Charles B. Slack, 1982.
Brown, Mark and Laurie. When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death. 1996.
Breebaart, Joeri and Biete. When I Die, Will I Get Better? 1993.
