"Let's Talk About Death Over Dinner"

Trinity Southport and Trinity Spiritual Center Host Acclaimed Author Michael Hebb about "Life's Most Important Conversation'

This unusual, one-of-a-kind dinner party will be hosted by "underground restauranteur and provocateur" Michael Hebb, and will take place on Sunday, May 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport. During what Hebb suggests is "life's most important conversation," participants will lean into fears we all have, consider what we want, both now during the remainder of life and at its close, so that we might enjoy deeper connections and the sweetness of life's final chapters. The discussion will be followed by dinner in the Parish Hall. 

Hebb is the founding partner of Convivium, a creative agency that specializes in shifting culture through the use of thoughtful food and discourse-based gatherings. Hebb's "Let's Have Dinner and Talk About Death" project has been rapidly inspiring people to transform this seemingly difficult conversation into one of deep engagement, insight and empowerment. More than 1 million people have attended these dinners across the world over the past 10 years. 

Following a highly interactive discussion over wine, beer and a family-style dinner, attendees will begin to have "those conversations" in a safe, low-key and light-touch way - "kind of a practice run to reduce the anxiety that we will experience later with parents or elders in our networks," says Mark Grayson, Director of Trinity Spiritual Center.

Over the course of the evening, Hebb will provide key lessons from his book, Let's Talk about Death (over Dinner): An Invitation and Guide to Life's Most Important Conversation, which documents his experience leading these conversations. All are welcome. No affiliation with Trinity is required.

Hebb, whose writings have appeared in USA Today, GQ, Food and Wine, and numerous other publications, is the Founder of Deathoverdinner.org and EOL.community. Convivium's client list includes: The Obama Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, TEDMED, The World Economic Forum, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, X Prize Foundation, The Nature Conservancy.

"Death Over Dinner was created to help families and friends address the basic human fact that we are all, at some point, going to die," said Michael Hebb. "We suffer more when we don't communicate our wishes, we suffer less when we know how to honor the wishes of our loved ones. As we build greater comfort and literacy around this important topic, every single one of us wins. In fact, this is a conversation about life and how we want to live."

"It's not often an invitation to dinner is also an invitation to talk about the end of life, but we believe that, like so many of the other programs at Trinity Spiritual Center, this will be a most memorable experience," said Peggy Hodgkins, Rector of the Trinity Church Southport. "We're inviting people to pull up a chair, break bread, and talk about the inevitable-the end of life. It's a vital conversation that, while difficult, can also bring enormous peace for us and our loved ones."

Hebb currently serves as a Board Advisor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University; and in the recent past as a Partner at RoundGlass and Senior Advisor to Summit Series, Theo Chocolate, CreativeLive, Architecture For Humanity, and Mosaic Voices Foundation. His second book "Let's Talk About Death" was published by Hachette in the U.S., U.K., and Australia in October of 2018 and Russia, China, Indonesia, Poland and Romania in the fall of 2019. 

In 2019 Michael Hebb launched the Healthcare Edition of Death Over Dinner in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic, initiating a national, grassroots discussion through these important dinners, conversations and virtual events.

WHAT: "Let's Talk about Death Over Dinner": Life's Most Important Conversation
WHEN: Sunday, May 1st at 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Trinity Episcopal Church, 651 Pequot Ave, Southport CT 
COST: $40 per person
REGISTER: https://death_over_dinner.eventbrite.com
QUESTIONS: Call the Church at (203) 255-0454

About Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church is located in the historic seaside district of Southport at 651 Pequot Avenue (at Center Street) and welcomes seekers of all denominations. Trinity's mission is to provide a vibrant 21st century Episcopal community that inspires spiritual growth, nurtures genuine connections and promotes charitable service.

About Trinity Spiritual Center
Trinity Spiritual Center is a dynamic and growing community of people of all ages and beliefs, engaging in a broad range of learning experiences to inspire and support their own journeys of spiritual growth

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Category: Community | Religion and Spirituality