Death awaits us all. And yet, we act as if we and those we love are somehow exempt. As a result, when we do face the illness or loss of those who matter to us, we are often totally unprepared and overwhelmed.

As a certified chaplain, I always look for high-quality curricula that address important life issues such as death, dying, and loss. Therefore, I am very excited about new materials developed by Carol Galginaitis, a member of the congregation of Wellesley, MA. Carol recently presented an overview of her lifespan curriculum called "The Lessons of Loss" at the annual meeting of the Unitarian Sunday School Society, which partially funded its development. I am very impressed with her well-researched and easy-to-use materials, which include lessons for children from first through twelfth grade, as well as a separate component for adults. Unfortunately, death, dying, and loss are not the exclusive domain of adults, and Carol has done a wonderful job creating age-appropriate materials that offer a gentle introduction to loss for our youngest churchgoers. Through books, exercises, and activities, each subsequent level of the curriculum adds richness and depth so that children, youth, and adults can consider and discuss their thoughts about death and dying, thus preparing them for life's inevitable losses. I am especially pleased to note that Carol brings in UU theology throughout her curriculum, making it truly unique among materials addressing this topic.

I applaud Carol's UU-based intergenerational approach to an important and difficult topic and therefore urge you to consider adding this curriculum to your church school program in the coming year and each year thereafter.