Bob approached the palliative care ward with trepidation in his step. The 52-year-old was emboldened by the opportunity to spend more time with his aging and ailing mother, yet haunted by a spectral foreboding. Like millions of other Canadians, the mere mention of “palliative” awakened his ordinary human dread of death.
“There are many opportunities for church people to become involved in palliative care,” says Jerry. “Volunteers are always needed for visitation. Even in palliative cases, some church members say they want visits from the church community, but not necessarily from the pastor. As one member once said to me, ‘I’m not that sick yet!’”
Palliative care. What is it? What isn’t it? The first issue of Canada Lutheran in 2017 explores the many stages of life, as well as the care for life in the palliative period. Reverends, Lynn Granke and Marc Jerry weigh in on the topics of life, death and the congregational response to appropriate philosophies of care during times of life-threatening illnesses, and/or the grieving period.
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