Christmas at GreenAcres Rainford

GreenAcres ceremonial Woodland hall

Went to the Christmas service at GreenAcres this morning.

As usual all the  staff were welcoming and the centre had laid on  mince pies and hot drinks for those arriving  on  cold, wet , December Sunday.

Celebrant Deirdre Brannigan  led the service,   comforting , emotional and reflective.  A time to remember  our loved ones and a message  that those that have passed are not forgotten, still here.

Lyndale singers

The Lyndale singers  performed three songs during the service,  all beautifully sung and well received.   When they sang ‘o tannebaum’  all we needed was it to start snowing outside the halls  huge glass windows and there wouldn’t had been a dry eye in the house!  

During  the service  guests  had the opportunity to hang a  paper heart message on  the halls beautiful-‘Bruce the spruce’ Christmas  tree in memory of their loved one/s.

Bruce the spruce

Keely Thomson (marketing and community engagement officer) then gave an update on the site since its opening in March, and reported they continue to actively manage the site for biodiversity and had planted  thousands of trees in recent months. They  have made some good partnerships (yes RSPB) and have supported various charities such as  the Willowbrook hospice,  Child Bereavement and Save the Rhino! (https://www.greenacreswoodlandburials.co.uk/news/)

 Roaster Richie

As we left  the hall to journey home.  Richie the warden was roasting  chestnuts on a barbecue outside.  A nice Christmas touch  on a cold day

Thanks to all the staff and volunteers who made it a special couple of hours for myself and other guests.

Laura 

Poem read by Keely at the service

​The Dash
by Linda Ellis copyright 1996

​I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
​the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before. 

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

​So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?