The pandemic has nudged many of us to face our mortality unflinchingly, and take steps to make preparations for our own deaths. If you need the comfort and guidance of community to do necessary work like filling out a health care advanced directive, planning your funeral/memorial service, or getting resources to execute your will or legacy giving, your church can help.
Please join Rev. Molly, Louise Specht and other partners like our church members who work as chaplains, Director of Music Derek Tam, and Stewardship, Finance, & Admin. Ministry Co-Chair Nick Kukulan for a 3-part Last Wishes Workshop. You can participate in any of the workshops, or all three. They are all free of charge.
Please RSVP to Louise Halsey at [email protected] to secure your space in the workshops.
Workshop Descriptions
Saturday, May 30, 10-11:30am: Funeral & Memorial Service Planning (Louise Specht, Rev. Molly Baskette + Derek Tam)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84326862003
Clarify your wishes and hopes for the kind of service you would like to be remembered in. We’ll sing hymns, talk about location, participation, prayers, rituals and more, and will keep a completed copy of your plans on file in the church archives for the (hopefully far-off) day when we will need them to fulfill your wishes.
Saturday, June 13, 10-11:30am: Wills, Trusts and Legacy Giving (Nick Kukulan + Rev. Andy DeBraber)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86836429728
Explore the world of wills, trusts and legacy giving to your church or any other community/agency you would like to support after your death. Find out the mechanisms so you can finally do these important tasks you have possibly been putting off for years. Join Stewardship, Finance, & Admin. Ministry Co-Chair Nick Kukulan and Guest Presenter Rev. Andy DeBraber to learn more about Planned Giving and why to consider it, primary planned giving vehicles, where your money goes when you leave a planned gift to First Church Berkeley through our Legacy Circle, and the world of the UCC and United Church Funds. Parents and young adults most welcome! Rev. Andy DeBraber has served as a Generosity Officer with the United Church of Christ National Setting for more than three years. He has developed the UCC major gifts program and consulted on giving, stewardship, and philanthropy with congregations and conferences across the country. He is also an adjunct faculty member with the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Lilly School of Philanthropy, leading Cultivating Generous Congregations workshops. Previously he worked as a local church pastor, nonprofit executive director, and community organizer. Andy lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and enjoys time with family, kayaking Michigan’s beautiful rivers, triathlons, racquetball, reading, games, travel, and sharing life over a cup of good dark coffee or lovely dark beer.
