#052: Of Womb and Tomb (with Kate Williams)

Kate Williams

Kate Williams

In the book of Ecclesiastes, we hear that “there is a season for everything: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to laugh, and a time to mourn.” As pastoral ministers, we know that there is a need for pastoral ministry in all seasons of life. Our work calls us to be attentive and present in times of great joy and celebration as well as in times of great sadness and mourning. Sometimes we do better with the celebrating than the mourning.

Today, we’re discussing ministry to those who know the pain of loss. Specifically, we are talking about ministry to those who have struggled with the inability to conceive, who know the pain of losing a child before birth, and those who have faced their child’s death at the time of birth. How are we present to them? How do we minister in this time of deep and, often, isolated sadness? How can we accompany them on their grief journey? To explore these questions and more, we’ll speak with author and editor Kate Williams.

SHOW NOTES

You can learn more about Kate Williams by visiting the GIA Publications staff page.

You can order the book, “Of Womb and Tomb,” by visiting the GIA Publications website. Here you can also order the accompanying music collection, both in print and audio recording.

The music you heard in today’s episode: “Turn My Heart, O God” (Marty Haugen), and “I Have Been Anointed” (Steve Warner).

Visit NPM's digital resource library, referenced at the end of the episode. 

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