These times are marked by a profound sense of grief in our own lives and in the world. We have lost loved ones, we have experienced changes in our communities, and many of us carry a sense of amorphous mourning. This Maundy Thursday, St. Mary’s will host a conversation around death and grief, exploring the stories of faith and teachings of nature, considering the importance of gathering and ritual, and discussing societal expectations and beliefs about mortality. We seek to move beyond the catechetical and doctrinal into communal wondering, solidarity, and care as we follow Jesus into these difficult questions. 

Our panelists include Rev. Flo Oakes, children’s pastor at St. Mary’s, and Meg Wade, interfaith chaplain at Larkspur Conservation, Tennessee’s natural burial site. Rev. Deborah Lynn, a chaplain at Alive Hospice, will share poetry and story with musical accompaniment by Libby Watrous. Rev. Danny Bryant will moderate.