EAST BRUNSWICK Aiming to help normalize conversations surrounding death, the Unitarian Universalist congregation is sponsoring its first “Death Cafe” event.
“In our society, death has been removed from our daily lives. Talking about death has acquired a stigma. Death Cafes give the opportunity to reduce that stigma, and our own fears that take root in silence. While we may be talking about death, this actually helps give more clarity and meaning to living our lives,” Rev. Karen Johnston said.
A Death Cafe is a group discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session, and is not recommended for people who have had a recent loss that they are grieving, according to a prepared statement for the church.
This free event will take place from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 28 at the church, located at 176 Tices Lane, East Brunswick.
Johnston said that ever since she first heard about Death Cafes she has been curious about them and that she spearheaded the idea for the church to host its own event.
The evening’s structure includes gathering together, sharing introductions, dividing into small groups for discussion, and then coming together at the end. All Death Cafes must be held in an accessible, confidential space, and there must be no leading people to any conclusion or belief system, according to a prepared statement.
“We hope that anyone who attends will get a chance to talk about this thing that we rarely talk about, thereby growing their own comfort with the topic. Conversations take place in small groups. There is no proselytizing [converting], just sharing and exploring from one’s own point of view. This is a chance to explore the topic, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually,” Johnston said.
The event is not a bereavement or support group for those going through loss, according to Johnston.
For more information about Death Cafes, visit www.deathcafe.com/what.
For more information about the Unitarian Universalist congregation, visit www.unitariansociety.org.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
