(March 4, 2015)

Office of the Chaplain co-hosts Not Okay lament service

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary's Office of the Chaplain in conjunction with ClearView Church will host an evening service for community members, Not Okay: A Community-Wide Grief and Lament Service, on Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m. in Centenary's Brown Chapel.

"This is the first time Centenary has offered a community-wide grief and lament service," said Director of Professional Discernment and Chaplain Valerie Robideaux. "I think it is an important service because so often people feel like they have to pretend they are okay. But, in reality, many people are hurting and grieving. I know that I am. The service provides an opportunity to meet people where they are and offer the space to simply be, question, and pray."

The ClearView Church website further describes the event:

No one's exempt from suffering. There's no pass when it comes to cancer. Or grief. Or rejection. The evening will be an opportunity to worship without fake smiles and easy answers, an invitation for those who are walking through a difficult season to trust God with their honest thoughts and emotions.

The practice of bringing one's questions — and even accusations — to God is remarkably common in the Bible. It's called lament, and it's a needed form of worship today given our unfortunately common habit of stuffing it instead.

This community-wide grief and lament service is free and open to the public.

For more information visit clearviewshreveport.org/not-okay or email Robideaux at vrobideaux@centenary.edu.