Hello Quest,

Many people feel uncomfortable and apprehensive about visiting someone who is experiencing serious illness or grieving a particular loss. We don’t know what to say, or how to respond to people who are grieving. This depth class is designed to help us learn from Scripture, our experiences, and other resources in order to be more prepared in helping others, as well as ourselves, in grieving our losses.

Why the depth class Learning to Lament?

To live is to experience “loss.” And some of the losses we experience are significant and cause heartbreak, or the pain of grief. It may be the death of a loved one, the breakup of a marriage or friendship, the loss of a job, the loss of a home, moving to another city, etc. The apostle Paul exhorts us to "weep with those who weep" (Ro. 12:15) and to “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2). How do we do that? How do we help others as well as ourselves grieve? How do we become more effective listeners and more effective burden bearers? These are among the questions we’ll explore in Learning to Lament.

What is a “lament”?

One of the ways in which we express our grief is to lament. A lament is a vocal or verbal expression of grief. It can simply be “a cry of sorrow,” or a song, or a poem expressing our grief. The Old Testament book of Lamentations records the laments of the prophet Jeremiah grieving the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babyonian king Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC. Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet.” The Psalms are prayers of the heart expressing every possible emotion. And many of the Psalms are Psalms of Lament which give voice in poetic form to individual or corporate expressions of grief –Psalm 22 and 90 are two familiar examples. Some people find it helpful to “journal” their feelings—two of my favorites are Lament for a Son (Nicholas Wolterstorff) and A Grief Observed (C. S. Lewis). And much closer to home, at a deeply personal and tender level for many of us at Quest Church, Craig and Betty Wong’s Caring Bridge journal over the past 15 months has had a profound and life-long impact on family and friends as they shared their intimately personal journey with us.

What is the format of the class?

The class will be an interactive learning experience. Our two hours together will include some teaching, Scripture readings, sharing our experiences with loss, and conversation around a brief video clip from Shadowlands (C. S. Lewis grieving with his stepson).

Join me and Tre Wyatt on Monday, March 23rd from 7-9 pm in the Q Café conference room as together we learn to lament. To see a short video about the class, click here. For more information and to RSVP, contact ray@seattlequest.org.

P a s t o r  R a y  B a r t e l  |  Community Pastor  |  ray@seattlequest.org

THIS WEEK AT QUEST | NEW EVENTS | COMMUNITY NEWS

• COMMUNITY GROUPS. Community Groups meet throughout the week throughout the greater Seattle area. C-groups are a vital part of the depth and authenticity of the Quest community. For a full list of c-groups and to sign up for a c-group, visit the c-groups homepage. If you have any questions or would like help finding the right c-group for you, contact jason@seattlequest.org.

• LIVE MUSIC @ THE Q. Friday - Victory Music CD 1 Release Party. Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8pm. All ages - $12, $10 for members. Coming soon to the Q: Questers Showcase featuring Jessica Hong (AM Worship Leader), Matt Chism (PM Worship Leader), Erik Halverson (5pm Worship Team) and Miles Thomas (5pm Worship Team). Friday, March 27th. Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8pm. All ages - $6. For more information or to volunteer during future live music shows, contact melissa@qcafe.org.

• OPEN MIC. Tuesday nights from 6:30-9pm at the Q Café, hosted by Victory Music. For more info, visit their website: www.victorymusic.org.

• REVISIONING VOCATION. If you're one of the many in our community who has recently been laid off, as a church family we are committed to caring for you in this difficult and unsure time. Join J.P. Kang for this weekly support group for the economically displaced, Sundays at 3pm at the Q Café. For more information and to RSVP, contact office@seattlequest.org.

• CONVERGENCE: GLOBAL PRESENCE. Join us Saturday, March 28th from 9am-1:30pm for a workshop on the theology and practice of Global Presence at Quest Church. Come to learn why the church and individuals are called to global partnership, what that looks like at Quest and how you can be involved. Event includes coffee, lunch, and snacks. For more info and to register, click here.

• NEWCOMERS LUNCH. In lieu of our monthly Newcomer's Dinner, we'll be hosting a Newcomer's Lunch on Sunday, March 29th following the 11am service at the Q Café. If you're new to Quest and would like more information about how get plugged in or if you have questions for our staff, come and let us treat you to lunch! RSVP with jennifer@seattlequest.org.

• CALL & RESPONSE. Quest Church and Q Cafe will be co-hosting a screening of the landmark advocacy film Call & Response, an eye-opening look into human trafficking in our world. Call: Film screening will take place at Quest Church from 7-8:30pm. Response: Advocacy fair to follow with representatives of Call and Response, HEAL Africa, World Concern, and other trafficking organizations. Come to hear more, and to get directly connected with what's going on in our neighborhood and in our world. Friday, April 3rd at 7pm at Quest Church. Tickets are $5. Click here to register.
  

• RAISING KIDS OF FAITH - A QUEST LIFECOURSE. All kids are made in the image of God and therefore are spiritual beings. Children are rewards from God. How can we understand them with God's view and how should we raise them in this dangerous world?  Join other Quest parents as we discuss ways to nurture our children's faith, and learn how to instruct and shepherd our children in the home, church, school and the world. Saturday, April 4th from 9am-12:30pm; lunch and childcare will be provided. For more information and to register, click here. If you have questions, contact katey@seattlequest.org.

• HOLY WEEK. Join us for the observervance of Holy Week at Quest Church all week long. Invite friends and family as we celebrate and observe this time as a community. For more information about any of these activities, contact office@seattlequest.org.
  
  • Monday: Open Prayer - 7 to 9pm at the Quest Church Sanctuary
  • Tuesday: Open Worship - 7 to 9pm at the Quest Church Sanctuary
  • Wednesday: Open Prayer - 7 to 9pm at the Quest Church Sanctuary
  • Thursday: Maundy Thursday Passover Meal - 6:30 to 8:30pm in the Quest Church Basement
  • Friday: Good Friday Service - 6pm (Family Service w/ childcare) and 8pm at the Quest Church Sanctuary
  • Saturday: Kid's Ministry Easter Egg Hunt - 10am to 1pm at Quest Church
  • Sunday: Joint Easter Service - 11am at Whittier Elementary

• BAPTISM. We'll be offering the sacrament of baptism on Sunday, April 26th. Baptism classes will be held on Sundays March 29th and April 5th from 1:30-3pm so please RSVP ASAP! For more information and to sign up, contact office@seattlequest.org.

• YOUTH MINISTRY DIRECTOR. Quest is currently accepting résumés for the Youth Ministry Director position. A full job description is available here. Please submit your cover letter and résumé as well as any questions you may have to office@seattlequest.org.

FUTURE QUEST CALENDAR