Urgent Care: Death of a Spouse

Losing a spouse to death is one of saddest, most traumatic events in any person's life. This training guide is designed to help your church respond to this situation with grace, hope, and sensitivity, and with the practical tools necessary to offer tangible help. Use these articles to develop empathy in your caregivers, a plan for reaching grieving widows and widowers, and to guide the reframing of life that occurs after profound loss. Here you will also find practical guidance on structuring a ministry, what not to say, and how to prepare your congregation for death. Table of Contents: A Quick Guide For Action Key points for caregiving ministry. An Empathetic Approach to Grief Help people with transition, acceptance, and confirmation of their faith. Paul Walker A Plan for Pastoral Care Knowing what to do and when are the keys to caregiving after the deathof a spouse. Rachel Nafziger Hartzler Grief Aftercare Care begins before the funeral and continues during the following months. Kevin Ruffcorn Helping the Bereaved Make the Right Choices The surviving spouse often needs help making the right decision at the right time. Randall K. Barton The First Moments How to break the news and deal with the initial shock and grief after death. James D. Berkley Words to Avoid The wrong words can add unnecessary pain to those already hurt. Rachel Nafziger Hartzler Long-Term Recovery These behaviors and attitudes are clues that a person has moved ahead. Susan J. Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Robert C. DeVries Preparing the Congregation for Death Church grief happens best within a sound theology of the end of life and the life to come. Rick McKinniss