By Lee Lai Sheong
Death and dying… hah? Who wants to talk about it?
Surprise! Surprise! 115 seniors signed up for it and quickly too!
Death is a taboo subject that is seldom discussed, mostly ignored, perhaps even suppressed in the conscious mind. Yet death is inevitable! It is an inescapable end-of-life journey we all have to go through.
The demography of PJEFC shows that more than 50% of our congregation are 60 years and above. Herein lies the need and urgency for JOY Ministry to initiate discussion on this matter. The secret to dying well is to be prepared. Are you prepared for death?
The first of the four-session ‘Death before Lunch’ was held on March 12, 2025. It centered on ‘End-of-Life Care’, i.e. my preferred health care choices and wishes in the event I am unable to decide or express them due to illness or debilitation of mind and body. We watched two impactful short videos, then broke into small groups to write and discuss our choices to questions in a booklet pertaining to end-of-life care.
From the feedback forms, most participants said that the session was eye-opening; all said the discussions were good, that death is a subject rarely talked about and should be talked about more often, and that the session had created awareness of the need to prepare for death. Some said they had never thought about planning and preparing for death and that more people must attend such sessions. Other comments are: the questions were thought-provoking, and they need to think more about them. And yes, in true Malaysian fashion, there were comments about the food served – it was good!
Don’t miss out on the 2nd session of Death Before Lunch on April 9, entitled ‘Getting My House in Order: My Will, My Assets, My Stuff’. Look out for the announcement and register promptly!
Get Involved
🧓A senior looking for a community beyond the family? Consider JOY. Reach out to Pastor Juat to find out more.
📝 Sign up for the 2nd session of Death Before Lunch here.