Exploring the Sacred in Death and Dying

This series of six 25 minute videos features the Rev. Ron DelBene, rector of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama, his wife Dr. Eleanor BelBene, director of the Hermitage spiritual and pastoral care center, caregivers, chaplains, and ordinary people who are dealing with the death of a loved one.

The series includes 10-12 minute segments on the following topics:

1. many ways of saying good bye
2. rituals for passage
3. accepting feelings of grief
4. moving through the hurt
5. stories of the many faces of death
6. a thin curtain between living and dying
7. being present to the sacred in a dying person
8. listening to your inner voice
9. communicating with the family
10. communicating with a circle of friends

The Study Guide provides conversation points, Biblical passages and brief information for each segment. Those that tell their story appear in a variety of segments telling about themselves and their loved ones. In the last video, the DelBene family talk about how they lived through the last year or two of Ron's father's life. There is footage of the father talking about his decline and impending death.

The series could easily be used by a group, a family, or an individual. It has a moving pace with brief teaching parts between many different people telling their stories. Ron DelBene focus attention on what we are hearing and challenges us to consider how we approach theses issues.