Compassion & Choices Featured as “Good Samaritan”

Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, California, honored our work for the month of May and hosted President Barbara Coombs Lee for a Finish Strong discussion.

May 24, 2019

Compassion & Choices aims to empower all people to chart their end-of-life journeys according to their own values and priorities. We partner with communities across the nation to realize this goal, including diverse faith groups. This month, we had the pleasure of being featured at Pilgrim United Church of Christ (UCC) in Carlsbad, California, in their “Good Samaritan” offering. This is an opportunity for the church to showcase a group or causes that reach out to help others. Rev. Madison Shockley, Compassion & Choices board member and African American Leadership Council member, provided churchgoers with Compassion & Choices materials and information. Rev. Shockley has also encouraged other congregations to pick a Sunday as “compassion Sunday” to honor those suffering and talk about end-of-life care.

On May 9, Compassion & Choices President Barbara Coombs Lee led a discussion about her book, Finish Strong: Putting Your Priorities First at Life’s End at Pilgrim UCC. Barbara said of the event, “I’m enormously grateful to Rev. Shockley and his terrific staff for making this event a huge success. We had a capacity crowd, eager to begin their own preparation for a strong finish when the time comes. These folks will make positive change in the Carlsbad community.” The event covered topics ranging from dementia to advance directives, and many attendees asked thought-provoking questions about the end of life. This event showcases the power of partnering with leaders of different faiths and communities to uplift individuals and their families as they plan their journeys.