Memorial Support

Memorial Support Ministry

The Memorial Support Ministry team provides a personal presence and caring outreach to Westminster members, friends, and their families when there is a death in the family. It offers a welcoming, helpful presence during funerals and memorial services. To this end, the team:

Prepares the sanctuary/chapel for funeral/memorial services by greeting family members, answering any questions guests have, and making family and friends comfortable and feel welcome during a difficult time.
Represents Westminster, when possible, at memorial services held places other than the church.
Plans and arranges the December Candlelight Service of Remembrance and dinner.

The Memorial Support Ministry team welcomes new members at any time. Email committee chairs Mary Koenke or Mary Johnson to learn more.

Downtown Coalition for Grief Support

Westminster is one of eight churches comprising the Downtown Coalition for Grief Support. The Downtown Coalition holds weekly Saturday morning meetings at the Basilica of St. Mary in the Cowley Center. These meetings are free and open to the public, regardless of religious affiliation. The meetings provide a safe, understanding environment for grief education, comfort, and healing.

The weekly session begins with a speaker who provides insights into the grief journey, and each time listeners gain more tools to deal with their individual losses.

The attendees then divide into three groups: family/friend loss, spouse/partner loss, and child loss to share their stories. The small group facilitators are trained volunteers who have, themselves, experienced loss of loved ones and who, therefore, are familiar with the grieving process. Participants support each other, listen to each other’s stories, and give hope to many who may have no other resources to help them.

Westminster continues to support the work of this coalition which reaches out into the community to offer a ministry of listening and caring. While everyone responds to grief in different ways, one thing remains constant — the ongoing support of family, friends, and those who understand loss, help us heal.

For more information, visit the coalition website: mplsgriefsupport.com. In addition, if there are grief-related questions/issues contact Rev. David Tsai Shinn at dshinn@wpc-mpls.org

Memorial Support