The Last Journey - A Way to Grieve With Renewed Hope

Sep 28, 2026

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A collection of scripture texts, songs, and accompanying guidance explores the emotions that accompany loss and offers a structured way to grieve. It presents biblical psalms of lament alongside expressions of praise, emphasizing that confronting grief is essential for mental and spiritual health. Designed for both individual and corporate use, the songs are arranged by stages of the grieving process and include notes with scripture and prayer for sorrowful times. The work also highlights consolations and enduring hope in the face of darkness and injustice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages100

Reading Time4 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

In the Beginning

Grief, Fear and Abandonment

Consolation

In the End

Leave Taking

Acknowledgements

INCLUDING A CD OF I7 SONGS THE NEED TO EXPRESS GRIEF,TO SING OURSORROW,IS AS OLD AS HUMANITY.THE BOOKOF PSALMS,SIDE BY SIDE WITH EXPRESSIONSOF DEEPEST PRAISE,CONTAINS CRIES OFUNFATHOMABLE DESPAIR.BOTH ARE NOTONLY ACCEPTABLE TO GOD,BUT ESSENTIALFOR OUR MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH. IN THE LAST JOURNEY,JOHN BELL EXPLORESTHE MYRIAD EMOTIONS THAT ACCOMPANYLOSS,OFFERING US A WAY TO GRIEVE,TOSEARCH THROUGH THE STRUGGLE BEFOREUs-AND PERHAPS ENABLING US TO FINDTHE COURAGE TO FACE THE WORLD WITHA RENEWED SENSE OF HOPE. JOHNL.BELL INCLUDING A CD OF I7 SONGS Originally published in the United States of America in 1996by GIA Publications,Inc.,Chicago,Illinois First published in Great Britain in 2018 Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge36 Causton StreetLondon SWIP4STwww.spck.org.uk Copyright CWGRG,Iona Community,1996,2018;①GIA Publications,Inc.,7404 S.Mason Ave.,Chicago,IL60638 All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted inany form or by any means,electronic or mechanical,including photocopying,recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system,withoutpermission in writing from the publisher: SPCK does not necessarily endorse the individual views contained inits publications Adapted Scripture extracts are from the Revised English Bible,which iscopyright C Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press 1989. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication DataA catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978-0-281-08002-1 Designed and typeset by Fiona AndreanelliFirst printed in Great Britain byJellyfish Print SolutionsSubsequently digitally printed in Great Britain Produced on paper from sustainable forests Using the recording5 5 IV.LEAVE TAKING51Introduction77Since we are summoned(9)) 56Go,silent friend (10)60The Texts (with song numbers in brackets))Lord our God,receive your I.IN THE BEGINNING 111servant (11)64O Christ,you wept(1)166Agnus Dei(12)68 V.THE SAINTS IN199HEAVEN71 # II.GRIEF,FEAR ANDABANDONMENT How long,OLord?(2)244For all the saints who'veshown your love (13)76I cry to God (3)266In Zion (14)80Who is there tounderstand?(4)300There is a place (15)84 ⅢI.CONSOLATION33VI.IN THE END87Let your restless heartsAaronic Blessing (16)91be still (5)38Nobody knows(17)93O the Lamb (6)41Steal away(7)44 4Acknowledgements94The last journey(8)48 The CD96 u8ingtheeoring While most collections of songs are intended to be listened to from startto finish,the nature of this material may suggest alternative uses. The songs are arranged in broad categories that roughly representdifferent stages of the grieving process.If the listener is going through abereavement,it may therefore be bestto listen only to one section at a time. Again,some of these songs are of a highly individual nature,while othersare meant for corporate use.Depending on the circumstances,personal songsmay be more important for people who are grieving than public ones However,it is hoped that the full spectrum of text and emotion willeventually be listened to or used by everyone,because grief is a process,not a destination.Feeling lost,being puzzled,letting go and gladlyremembering are part of a continuum,and our spiritual health requiresthat we go through it,rather than remain numb with no desire to recoveror sing victorious hallelujahs to avoid dealing with the mess inside. The text of the songs is given,along with a note on each item and somewords of Scripture and prayer that may be helpful in times of sorrow. &ntih These songs started many years ago.Exactly how many,we don't knowbut the need to express grief,to sing our sorrow,is as old as humanity. When it came to collecting together the items that would eventuallymake what we call the book of Psalms,the selectors were careful toensure that the texts would be fully representative of the providence ofGod and the experience of humanity. That is why side by side with expressions of deepest pra

FAQs

How are the songs organized for grieving listeners?

The songs are arranged in broad categories that roughly represent different stages of the grieving process, so listeners may choose one section at a time.

What is the relationship between psalms of lament and praise in the collection?

The collection places cries of unfathomable despair alongside deepest praise, presenting both as acceptable to God and essential for mental and spiritual health.

Can the songs be used privately as well as in groups?

Yes. Some songs are highly individual while others are meant for corporate use, and personal songs may be more important during bereavement.

Sep 28, 2026

Upload by Liam