God is with us: as we remember loved ones who have died

Remembering Those We Love - Sunday 1st November 2015, 10.45am, Jubilee Gardens, North Stainley

Jubille Gardens, Watermill Lane - just beyond the village hall car park

The Church year around early November has a sort of "season of remembrance". From All Saints Day on November 1st (where the focus is on those throughout history who have been followers of Jesus) to All Souls Day on November 2nd where we remember all those who have died, through to Remembrance Sunday (November 8th this year) and Armistice Day on November 11th where we think about those killed in conflicts, this is a time to reflect on the passing of time, the passing of life and remembering those who are no longer here to walk alongside us.

Grief is a journey

When someone we love has died, our grief can take many forms. As time passes, grief seldom completely goes away, but it does change. Grief is a journey. Whether you come to the service on November 1st thinking about someone who has died recently or decades ago, this is an opportunity to invite God to be with you on your journey of grief, wherever you are on it.

God is with us

In the middle of Jubilee Gardens is a simple maze. It has dead ends; it loops around, seemingly not getting any closer to the centre at times; it sometimes changes direction suddenly; when you reach an apparent ending, you notice that there is another way which you can go; when you look back at where you have been, it gives you a different perspective. The journey of grief can be like that, too. There is no "right way" to grieve, but in the service on November 1st, the aim is to invite God to walk with us, wherever we are on that journey. A key message of the Christian faith is that God is with us, right in the middle of human experience and whatever life throws at us. 

One reason this service is taking place in Jubilee Gardens rather than in St Mary's Church or the churchyard is that it is in the middle of things, right in and among the houses. It is a place which some people use to play in, some like to sit, some like to wander around. It's a place where some people have planted trees, or placed plaques, benches and sculptures in memory of loved ones who have died. It is quite a new place, but one which already has meaning for many people in our community. By holding the service here, we're acknowledging that God comes out to meet us wherever we are in our grief and sense of loss. We are inviting God's loving, healing presence into the centre of our community.

Sometimes we need to look at our bereavement from a fresh perspective

The service will not be a long one. For a start, early November in North Stainley can be a cold, wet place to stand! If it is tipping down, we will have the service in the Village Hall, another new place in the centre of the life of our community. But the service will include prayers, words from the Bible, a little music, space to reflect and offer thanks to God for those we love who have died, and a simple act of remembrance which we can all join in with. This won't be anything embarrassing, but will be a chance to offer our grieving - whatever is on our hearts - to God.

Loving God, loving each other

All are welcome in Jubilee Gardens at 10.45am on Sunday 1st November followed by refreshments in the Village Hall. Let's support each other in our journeys of grief by coming together in remembrance and prayer, and recognise that, whatever shape our grief takes at the moment, wherever we think we are on that journey, God is reaching out to us in love.


Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from the love God has for us. Not death, not life, not angels, not ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, or anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 (International Children's Bible)