Bethesda welcomes the Reverend Dr Victor Austin for a 30-minute talk on the topic of bereavement and loss. Fr Austin writes:
In the midst of loss and its aftermath, God calls us to return to the central gift he has for us: the gift of friendship. The friendship-gift is the heart of the fellowship of Jesus (see John 15:13); indeed, we could define the essence of being human in Christ as simply living in friendship with God and each other. Such truths are important at any time but especially in times of decline and loss of persons and communities, such as many suffered in the social disruptions of the pandemic.

Father Austin will speak theologically and personally about loss and friendship, and will offer some thoughts on how a congregation can be a place where we are schooled in friendship. All welcome.