rivka: (chalice)
rivka ([personal profile] rivka) wrote2010-05-10 11:36 am

(no subject)

I'm going to be preaching at my church on July 11. In fact, with the help of a Worship Associate (who presumably will know what he or she is doing, one hopes - because I don't), I'll be doing the whole service.

I kind of can't believe I got myself into this.

The title of my sermon is "Life Or Death Situations." I'm going to talk about my experiences working with people who are terminally ill and and people who are suicidal. The scary part, for me, is that I am going to talk about why assisted suicide is problematic and why I believe that endorsement of assisted suicide is contrary to UU religious values. I don't think that will be a popular opinion in my church.

I met with our minister yesterday to talk about it. He is very encouraging, and has promised me any support I need. But it's still going to come down to me writing a sermon and then standing up to deliver it, in front of a whole bunch of people who probably don't want to hear what I have to say.

I know there are several ministers and lay religious leaders who read my LJ; any advice you have would be incredibly helpful.

[identity profile] vom-marlowe.livejournal.com 2010-05-10 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I wonder if you would be willing to consider posting some or all of your thoughts on this matter?

I have such mixed feelings about these issues, as a sometimes-disabled person and a longterm pain sufferer. (Mostly I want pain meds FIXED; I don't give a shit if people get addicted to morphine if they're dying, but anyway.)

I'm really concerned about it because my mom, who is uninsured, is convinced it would be the ethical thing to do if she became seriously ill, and I don't agree.

[identity profile] rivka.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I imagine that I'll be posting quite a bit about it as I work up to writing (and then delivering) the sermon. I'd be interested to hear more about your mixed feelings as I go along.

Here in Maryland, there's a specific box you can check on the living will forms that says "If I am not expected to recover, I want to be fully supplied with pain meds even if it hastens my death." Which I think is an awesome thing to be able to specify.