'Ceremony of Remembrance' set for Dec. 2
Ornaments with names of loved ones who have died are displayed at a previous Ceremony of Remembrance at Lake City Community Church.
Devin Weeks/Press file photo
COEUR d'ALENE — The Ceremony of Remembrance to honor loved ones lost is scheduled 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 2, at Lake City Church, 6000 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d’Alene.
The free event includes a complimentary ornament and reading of loved ones’ names.
The guest speaker will be Mary Anne Ruddis, executive director of Elevations: A Children’s Therapy Resource Foundation. She is a grief educator and counselor who often walks with families dealing with the grief of childhood cancer diagnoses.
"This time of year can be brutal for those in grief," a press release said.
Loss comes in a variety of ways — death, divorce, shattered dreams and broken relationships.
"Most of us were taught to suck it up and go on when faced with loss," the release said. "Grief affects every area of our being — physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional. There is help. In order for our hearts to heal we need to understand grief and have healthy ways to express it. Time alone doesn’t heal, but time and understanding how to process grief does allow for healing. "
Grief release workshops are held at the Kroc Center four times a year. The next five-week workshop is Tuesdays, Jan. 9 to Feb. 6.
To register and provide the names of loved ones for the Ceremony of Remembrance go to lakecity.church.com. Questions, email joanied@lakecity.church or call 208-676-0632.
"Here’s the good news: pain is inevitable but misery is optional. We do have to face our pain instead of running from it, but we do this a little at a time, as we are able," a press release said.