Program notes:
No judgment – allow space for their responses; give permission to have the feelings they have.
At what point in their response to tragedy are we meeting them? (stage of grieving, chronic grief, ambiguous grief).
Create space for lament.
Create space for anger to be released.
Classical stages of grief to keep in mind:
Shock/Disbelief
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Acceptance
When a person can't pray themselves (either they don't want to communicate with God or don't know how/what to say), what is our role? As prayer ministers, remain steadfast in faith and filled with love and hope!