Kelli Carter ~ Staff Writer
On Nov. 4, 2019, at the University of Lynchburg, the Spiritual Life Center held a ceremony where they remembered the people that were lost in the past year.
In a campus-wide email, Spiritual Life invited the Lynchburg community “to honor friends and family members who have died. We welcome any and all members of the campus community who would like to be a part of this memorial service.”
The ceremony was very solemn and respectful as the community mourned the loss of their loved ones. The service began with music played by F. Johnson Scott and then lead to Rev. Nathan Albert saying some words.
Rev. Albert said, “In the Christian tradition, this is a holiday. It aligns with all staints day… that commereance the belief that there is a powerful bond, a spiritual bond between those of us who are grieving and those who have died and that is one of the reasons why we have this celebration on this day.”
He also noted, “Mourning is one of the most profound human experiences that is possible to have, the deep capacity to weep for the lost of a loved one and to continue to teaster the memory of that lost is one of our noblest human traits.”
The service allowed for people to be in an environment where they were supported.The service concluded with a reading of names and people lighting candles to the names of their loved ones.
Despite the sadness of loss, the service served as a moment to uplift the memory of lost loved ones.
Nolan Boyd, a senior at the University of Lynchburg, said, “My grandfather passed away on [Oct. 7] so when I got the email about doing this, it seemed like a really great opportunity since it was so recent… [hearing his name] means more than I can put into words. He was probably one of the closet, perfect person I have ever met and I miss him.”
