A Sermon on Loss​
Dear Hosanna,
Loss has been an overwhelming part of life the past year. Just in the past 15 months in our congregation, Cora, Janet, Tony, Tina, Fred, Gerry, Shirley, and now Virginia have died. I know many of you have lost fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, friends, and neighbors as well. It’s a lot. And it can be overwhelming at times. And so, it’s important that we name our grief out loud. You are not alone in it.
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We believe that our loved ones are in heaven and that God has wrapped them in grace and glory. We trust that they are whole and well, and maybe we even feel some relief that they are not in pain. But none of that takes away the pain of our loss. Grief is normal. A rollercoaster of emotions is normal. It’s okay to cry and it's okay to laugh. It’s okay to be sad and also to enjoy what’s happening in the present. Our hope in God is not only for resurrection of the dead, but also resurrection for the living. We believe there is still life for us, and that we find that life in and with each other. Joy and hope might feel thin at times, but it will come again (and again), often when we least expect it. God is with us, and God will not fail us.
We have several easy-to-access resources available for living with grief:
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Pastor Mike’s sermon this morning, in which he talks about the losses we're experiencing. (Video is on this page)
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Online resources listed on our website, including stages of grief, dealing with specific kinds of grief, myths and facts, what to say (and not say) to someone grieving, and an excellent in-depth conversation on how we live with grief while embracing life.
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Talk one-on-one with Pastor Mike and/or other trusted people in your life. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Whether you’re feeling the pain of recent loss, you’re feeling loss from long ago, or it’s still somewhere down the road for you, know that you are not alone. You are loved. And you are invited to share your grief, even as we share life together.
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God’s Peace be with you all.
Pastor Mike