Annual service to be held virtually, coordinated by local hospice organizations
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., (Aug. 28, 2020) – Families of all beliefs are invited to take part in We Remember, the sixth annual community interfaith memorial, which will be held virtually at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Participants will have the opportunity to process the many forms of loss experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme of this years’ service will be resilience.
The annual event will offer a 45-minute memorial service, streamed on Facebook and YouTube, followed by a 45-minute live discussion group via Zoom. The service will feature music, reflection, prayer and poetry from various traditions. The live discussion will offer large group and chat-room style spaces to virtually connect with others under the facilitation of bereavement counselors.
“Thanks to the combined efforts of our area hospice agencies, the annual community interfaith memorial continues to offer a space that honors the shared experience of loss,” said Kyle Kooyers, associate director of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute. “In this pandemic season, we know that folks across all walks of life are carrying grief and loss in many forms. Whether you’ve lost a loved one, lost a job, or lost the ability to experience significant life events as you’d hoped, we invite all to come and join us as we lean into resilience together.”
During the memorial service, representatives from the secular community, Bahá’í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Indigenous, Islam and Jewish faiths will lead prayers, songs, reflections and readings.
There will be a 45-minute live discussion on Zoom for attendees to talk about their losses and grief experiences in a safe and welcoming space. Given the pandemic, this is a challenging time for many. Those who have experienced losses over the past year, of any kind, are most welcome to attend. Attendees are encouraged to bring photos or a memorial item to be shared in this virtual space.
To register, please visit www.interfaithunderstanding.org. Upon registration, attendees will be sent information to access the memorial service and live Zoom discussion.
We Remember is collaboratively coordinated and supported by Center for Inquiry Michigan, Dominican Center at Marywood, Emmanuel Hospice, Faith Hospice, First Islamic Center of West Michigann, Heartland Hospice, Hospice of Michigan, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, Kindred Hospice, Spectrum Health Hospice and The Bahá’í Faith Community.
About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. A founding member of the NorthStar Care Community, the not-for-profit delivers the highest quality of care, raising more than $5 million each year to cover costs for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life. HOM also provides grief support and counseling, as well as caregiver education and support. A member of the NorthStar Care Community, HOM also provides palliative care through NorthStar Palliative Care, pediatric hospice care and compassionate support services through Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through the NorthStar Institute. The NorthStar Care Community also includes Arbor Hospice. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve nearly 5,400 patients annually across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. For more information, call 888.247.5701 or visit www.hom.org.