Activity time: 5 minutes

Light the chalice and share these words from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 20 (NRSV):

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace...
All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Call attention to the covenant you have posted and ask participants to reaffirm their willingness to let it guide your time together.

Explain that in this workshop they are going to talk about decision making for the end of life. Urge them to take care of themselves as they work through what can be emotionally challenging territory.