Workshop 1: Talking about Death Part of Facing Death with Life In This Section Introduction From Facing Death with Life In the end, people don't view their life as merely the average of all its moments—which, after all, is mostly nothing much plus some sleep. For human beings, life is meaningful because it is a story. A story has a sense of a whole, and its arc is determined by the significant moments, the ones... Workshop-at-a-Glance From Facing Death with Life Activity Time Opening 15 minutes Activity 1: Creating a Covenant 10 minutes Activity 2: Death Talk 10 minutes Activity 3: Readings from the Common Bowl 25 minutes Activity 4: Grief and Loss in Up 20 minutes Activity 5: Guided Meditation 15 minutes For Next Time 10 minutes Closing 5 minutes... Materials From Facing Death with Life Newsprint, markers, and tape 4'x4' black cotton cloth Several small cups of colored sand One chalice large enough to hold all the sand One candle Handout 1, Quotes for the Common Bowl Handout 2, Looking Ahead to Workshop 2 Decorative bowl, lightweight enough to pass around Scissors Three-ring... Preparation From Facing Death with Life Lay out black cloth on table. Fill cups with different colors of sand and place around the outside edge of the black cloth. Put chalice and candle aside. Write on newsprint and post: My name is __________________. What am I hoping to get out of this program? What thoughts and emotions come to the... Opening From Facing Death with Life Activity time: 20 minutes Welcome participants. Share these words from Amy Tan in her novel Saving Fish from Drowning: Here the lessons of Buddhism seemed true, Vera thought. Life was merely an illusion you must release. As she grew older, she was aware of her changing position on mortality.... Activity 1: Creating a Covenant From Facing Death with Life Activity time: 10 minutes Invite the group to create a covenant together. Say, “What would make this group productive and safe for you?” List responses and encourage discussion until consensus is reached. As appropriate, seek the approval of the group to add items that are important to you, such... Activity 2: Death Talk From Facing Death with Life Activity time: 10 minutes Invite participants to brainstorm a list of euphemisms, metaphors, and slang for death, burials, funerals, and so on, capturing the list on posted newsprint. Ask, “What does this list indicate about what people are unable to say directly?”... Activity 3: Readings from the Common Bowl From Facing Death with Life Activity time: 25 minutes Introduce this activity using these or similar words: As we reflect on death, dying, and grief in this program, we will practice deep listening to both our own inner thoughts and feelings and the thoughts and feelings of others. This exercise, developed by the Reverend... Activity 4: Grief and Loss in Up From Facing Death with Life Activity time: 20 minutes Say, “You may have seen the Disney Pixar movie Up. In it is a story of death and grief that sets the stage for subsequent action. Let’s watch just that part of the film.” Share scenes 2 and 3 of the video, which will take about ten minutes. Invite comments and... Activity 5: Guided Meditation From Facing Death with Life Activity time: 15 minutes Invite participants to settle down and relax. Lead a guided mediation using these words: Remove things from your hands, and place your hands comfortably on your lap. Place your feet flat on the ground. Your eyes may be open or closed as desired. Take slow, deep breaths,... For Next Time From Facing Death with Life Activity time: 15 minutes Share with participants upcoming plans so that they are prepared for upcoming workshops.... Closing From Facing Death with Life Activity time: 5 minutes Extinguish the chalice and share these words by Kate Walker: As we bring this time to a close, we recognize that each moment leads to a new experience. With the passage of time, we stretch ourselves to remember the past, to live in the present, and to anticipate the future. Leader Reflection and Planning From Facing Death with Life Make a time for individual reflection and discussion with your co-leader after the conclusion of the workshop. Consider these questions: What worked well in today's workshop? How can these elements or approaches be repeated or amplified in the future? What was most challenging?... Handout 1: Quotes for the Common Bowl From Facing Death with Life Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. — Psalm 23 (KJV) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The state of death is one of two things: either the dead man wholly ceases to... Handout 2: Looking Ahead to Workshop 2 From Facing Death with Life In the end, people don't view their life as merely the average of all its moments—which, after all, is mostly nothing much plus some sleep. For human beings, life is meaningful because it is a story. A story has a sense of a whole, and its arc is determined by the significant moments, the ones... PREVIOUS: Leader Resource 2: Lee Ann Wester's Reflection on Death UP: Facing Death with Life NEXT: Introduction Download all of Facing Death with Life (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.