Few of us take the time to do the praying, thinking, talking, and acting needed to prepare for the future. Planning for difficult times is particularly hard because it requires anticipating negative possibilities, trying to imagine uncertain, hard-to-face situations, and facing the inevitable end times of our lives. On top of this is the sheer magnitude of all the things you need to gather and do. Planning for the end of life can feel overwhelming, confusing, and even frightening. Yet, few acts are more loving and thoughtful than taking the time to plan ahead.
This coming Saturday you are invited to attend “Getting Your Affairs in Order,” a symposium presented by the Caring Ministries team to encourage and assist you with planning ahead. The event will take place in Congregational Hall from 9:00 a.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) to 12:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend this free event, whether you are a BMPC member or part of the community.
The event will feature expert voices from our community who will speak on a variety of important aspects of end-of-life planning:
- The Rev. Dr. Agnes Norfleet: Spirituality of aging
- Al Davey and Dr. Joseph Bushra of Narberth Ambulance: Preparing in case of a medical emergency
- Rodger McKinney of Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home: Funeral planning while honoring life
- Rob Slutsky of Slutsky Elder Law: Elder law considerations
In addition to these voices, participants will receive a comprehensive binder to help guide them through the various considerations and decisions to be made. The binder consists of three booklets:
- Planning Guide: a place to centrally organize all your information.
- Resource Book: a compendium of general information about end-of-life planning.
- When the Time Comes: a guide to memorial service planning.
If you are unable to attend this Saturday’s symposium but would like to access these resources, you can find them on the church website. Likewise, the resources can be mailed to you by calling Monica Devane at 610-525-2821.
If this information already feels overwhelming, please know that you are not alone in this process. The entire pastoral team and Caring Ministries team at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church is here to help you each step of the way. When preparations are made and discussed with others, survivors are relieved of difficult questions as to what is right and have the satisfaction of knowing they are doing what the deceased person wanted. Planning ahead also means that the arrangements and service will express the comfort and hope of the Christian faith - fully and without compromise.
Planning ahead is an act of love. Taking the time to work through these various questions and decisions is challenging, but it also is a gift to those you care about. As always, your church family at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church is here to support and care for you all along the way.
We hope to see you this Saturday, March 4, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in Congregational Hall for Getting Your Affairs in Order!
