Events

June 9, 2020, 7pm. Death-Care Planning, Advance Directives, Talking to Your Family & Friends.

May 12, 2020, 7pm. How MTN volunteers support people without supportive family or community who want home after-death care.

April 14, 2020, 7pm. Holding Space for Loving, Dying, and Letting Go (Amy Wright Glenn’s work)

March 10, 2020, 7pm. A Spontaneous Death-Care Community that Emerged after the Tragic Deaths of Two Teenagers: A Reader’s Theater with the Girls’ Parents

February 11, 2020, 7pm.  Film and Discussion: Amy’s Story with Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, Lyndale United Church of Christ

January 14, 2020, 7pm. Working Respectfully with the Trans/Nonbinary Community, St. Peder’s Lutheran Church.

December 10, 2019, 7pm. Facing Holidays after a Loss: Stories and Strategies

November 12, 2019 7pm. Passion, Wisdom, Community: Report from the NHFA national conference, including part of the 3-day mock home vigil organized by MTN members.

October 4-6, 2019. National Home Funeral Alliance conference, Oak Ridge Conference Center. Chaska, MN.

September 10, 2019, 7pm. Annual book group. Nokomis Square Coop. Minneapolis. 

June 18, 2019, 6:30pm. Natural burial evening. Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center.

May 14, 2019, 7-9:00 pm. Art, Poetry, Music, and Ritual for Conscious Dying & Home Funerals. Spirit of St. Stephens, 2201 1st Ave S., Minneapolis.

April 9, 2019, 7-9:30 pm. Documentary film, How to Die in Oregon— at the home of Linda Bergh, 4315 Xerxes Ave. South, Minneapolis.

March 7, 2019, 7pm. End-of-Life Doulas. 7801 E Bush Lake Road, Bloomington.

January 15, 2019, 7pm. Documentary film In the Parlor: the Final Goodbye, Falcon Heights United Church of Christ, St. Paul.

December 11, 2018, 7pm. Readers’ theater, “Stay with me Awhile.” Spirit of St. Stephen’s, Minneapolis.

November 7, 2018, 7pm. The Art of Natural Death Care. Nokomis Square Coop, Minneapolis.

September 19, 2017, 7pm. Annual reading exchange; a book, article, or question about death and dying — at the home of Anne Murphy, 287 Mount Curve Blvd, St. Paul.

June 20, 2017, 7pm. Annual Community Forum. Green Burials. Prairie Oaks Eco-Memorial Grounds, Inver Grove Heights.

May 9, 2017, 7pm. Jewish approaches to death and after-death practices. Hodroff-Epstein Memorial Chapel, 126 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis.

April 11, 2017, 7pm. Muslim approaches to death and after-death practices with Owais Byunus, author of When Death Approaches. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1895 Laurel Ave, St. Paul.

March 8, 2017, 7pm. Tibetan approaches to death and after-death practices. At the home of Kyoko Katayama.

January 10, 2017, 6:30pm.  Death Over Dinner, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church: 1895 Laurel Ave, St Paul, MN. RSVP to Anne Murphy, 651-964-9128, annievmurph@gmail.com.

November 9, 2016, 7pm. “A Family Undertaking,” a PBS documentary on home funerals — at the home of Anne Murphy, 287 Mount Curve Blvd, St. Paul. Free and open to all.

October 15, 2016, 10am.  Regional Gathering of home funeral/green burial advocates. At the home of Linda Bergh, 4315 Xerxes Ave. Minneapolis. 612-927-0894.

September 13, 2016, 7pm. Share Your Favorite Book About Death and Dying —  at the home of Nancy Manahan and Becky Bohan, 21 East Rustic Lodge Ave, Minneapolis. 612-823-1910.

June 14, 2016, 7pm, The Vigil Continuum: Caring for Our Loved Ones from Pre-Death to Post Death. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church: 1895 Laurel Ave, St Paul, MN.

May 10, 2016, 7pm, The Arts of Death, at the home of Maianne Dietzel, 2954 Hamline Ave. N., Roseville, MN, 651-633-0432.

April 12, 2016, 7pm, movie night, Passing Through Our Hands: a home funeral care guide video — at the home of Kathy Huset, 1811 West Minnehaha Ave., St. Paul.

March 8, 2016, 10 to noon, “Death Over Easy,” a community conversation. Walker Community UMC, 3104 16th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55407. Walkerchurch.org. Bring: Juice, Breads, Fruit Salad, Green Salads, Eggs. Suggested donation $5 to cover room rental.

February 16, 2016, 6:30-8:30pm, Dying to be Green, Assisi Heights Spirituality Center, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN. Definition, benefits, and legalities of green burial, as well as local resources available to support the choice to die green. Presented by the Rochester Area Chapter of the Minnesota Threshold Network. Register at (507) 280-2195.

January 12, 2016, 7pm, Sharing Stories — at the home of Maianne Dietzel, 2954 Hamline Ave. N., Roseville, MN, 651-633-0432.

December 8m 2015, 7pm, Bringing Art into the Conversation about Death

November 10, 2015, The Vigil Project —  at the home of Linda Bergh, 4315 Xerxes Ave. Minneapolis. 612-927-0894.

October 13, 2015 Death Over Dinner, St, Mary’s Episcopal Church, St. Paul , 6:30pm

September 15, 2015. 7pm, Share Your Favorite Book About Death and Dying —  at the home of Nancy Manahan and Becky Bohan, 21 East Rustic Lodge Ave, Minneapolis. 612-823-1910.

June 9, 2015, 6:30 pm, “Breaking New Ground” — Picnic potluck, tour of a green cemetery, reenactment of a green burial. Roselawn Cemetery, 803 West Larpenteur Avenue,  Roseville, MN 55113

May 12, 2015, 7pm, Story Night: Recent Home Vigils — at the home of Anne Murphy, 2183 Wellesley Ave. St. Paul

April 14, 2015, 7pm, Caregiver Loss after an Anticipated Death —  at the home of Linda Bergh, 4315 Xerxes Ave. Minneapolis. 612-927-0894.

March 10, 2015, 7pm, Preparing for death: Personal Self-Assessment Scale — at the home of Nancy Manahan and Becky Bohan, 21 East Rustic Lodge Ave, Minneapolis

February 10, 2015, 7pm, Movie night: This Dewdrop World, connecting a personal death to planetary loss

January 13, 2015, 7pm, Death and Cookies – an open discussion about death

December 9, 2014, 7pm, Stories of Natural Burials including Rep. Carolyn Laine’s PowerPoint presentation and a professional mortician’s experience

November 22,, 2014 9am-3pm, Caring for Our Own: After Death Care Workshop, taught by Linda Bergh, Kyoko Katayama, and Anne Murphy, $35-75, Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1895 Laurel, Saint Paul. Register with Anne Murphy at annievmurph @ gmail.com or 651-964-9128

November 11, 4014, 7 pm, Green Burials: the principles and the practicalities — with managers of local green cemeteries —  at the home of Linda Bergh, 4315 Xerxes Ave. Minneapolis. 612-927-0894.

November 6th, 6:30-9 pm, Death Over Dinner, Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1895 Laurel, Saint Paul, RSVP to Anne Murphy at annievmurph @ gmail.com or 651-964-9128

October 17, 2014, 11am, MTN tour of new flameless “green” cremation facility, Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation, 2800 Curve Crest Blvd, Stillwater

October 14, 2014, 6:30 p.m., A Will for the Woods, a documentary movie on green burial. Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1895 Laurel Avenue, Saint Paul

September 15, 2014, 7 p.m., Rochester area MTN meeting at People’s Food Coop, 519 First Ave. SW, Rochester. For reservations, contact Char Tarashanti, 507-289-0702.

September 16, 2014, 7 p.m., open planning meeting at  home of Nancy Manahan and Becky Bohan, 21 E. Rustic Lodge Ave, Minneapolis

August 25, 2014, 7-9 pm, inaugural meeting of the Rochester chapter of the Minnesota Threshold Network! To be held at People’s Co-op, 519 First Avenue SW, in the community meeting room  State Representative Carolyn Laine will speak about Minnesota law regarding family after-death-care rights and natural burials.  Additional guests: Nancy Manahan & Becky Bohan, Co-authors of Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully and founding members of the Minnesota Threshold Network.  Contact Char Tarashanti at 507-289-0720 or biobalance240@charter.net for details and to reserve your seat.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 7pm – 9 pm,  Annual public forum, featuring Elizabeth Knox. “Home After-Death Care & Green Burials: What Is It? Why Would You Want to do It?”  Macalester Plymouth United Church, 1658 Lincoln Ave, Saint Paul. Free and open to all.

TUESDAY May 13, 2014, 7pm meeting at the home of Nancy Manahan and Becky Bohan, 21 E. Rustic Lodge Ave., Mpls. Green Burial & Cremation.

      

SUNDAY April 6, 7pm meeting, at the home of Anne Murphy, 2183 Wellesley Avenue, Saint Paul 55105. Focus is Deaths of Young Children. Share and hear stories,  including the inspiring book Alison’s Gift. Nancy Jewel Poer’s new 25-minute video “Gifts of Home Funerals for Families and Community Threshold Work.”

Monday, March 10, 7pm meeting at the home of Nancy Manahan and Becky Bohan, 21 E. Rustic Lodge Ave., Mpls.  Focus is The Conversation: how to discuss with our loved ones our wishes for end-of-life and/or after-death care. People can prepare by going to Ellen Goodman’s Conversation Project , downloading the starter kit, and taking it to the meeting.

 

Monday, February 10, 7:00 pm: movie night at Marianne Dietzel’s home (2954 Hamline Ave, Roseville). Clips from Amour, winner of the 2013 Oscar for best foreign film. Hospice workers and volunteers will share their end-of-life experiences and perspectives on death.

Monday, January 14, 7:00 pm, meeting at the home of Linda Bergh, 4315 Xerxes Ave. Minneapolis. 612-927-0894. Funeral Consumer’s Alliance of Minnesota board members will share their recent price survey of 80 Twin Cities Funeral homes and discuss common interests, including asking funeral homes to post prices on their websites. On January 1, 2013, California became the first state to enact this requirement.

Monday, December 9, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, presentation at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Community, 4537 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419, Upper Room. Sacred Transitions: Home Vigils, Green Burials. Do you know what the 2010 Family Rights After Death Legislation allows for more environmental, economical, and ritualistic options at the death of a loved one? Learn more with Rep. Carolyn Laine, and Nancy Manahan, providing education on conscious dying, home-after-death care and natural final disposition.

Monday November 18, 2013, 7pm, meeting at the home of Becky Bohan & Nancy Manahan, 21 East Rustic Lodge Ave. Mpls. 612-823-1910. Meeting topic: “The Letter,” a personal expression of our thoughts regarding our dying process to share with those we love. The Letter can give a more personal and heartfelt meaning to an Advance Care Directive and lead to deeper life-and-death-changing conversations with family members. The Letter is not just for someone who is old or actively dying.  It can facilitate a conversation of a young person with his/her parents or a middle aged person with family and siblings.  Threshold participants will share their Letters as examples. Meetings are free and open to all.

Monday, October 21, 2013, 7 pm Movie night at the home of Linda Bergh, 4315 Xerxes Ave, Minneapolis, 612-927-0894. For this every-other month movie night, we will screen Passing Through Our Hands: Home Funeral Care Guide, a documentary on after-death care of the body. Most of us have few opportunities to learn how to care for a body; this short film gives step-by-step instructions on how to do that in a simple, dignified, and loving way.

“Passing Through Our Hands” starts when the person dies and covers how to wash the body, dress and lay out the body, hold a vigil, and move the body into a coffin. It includes a link to guidelines and written instructions in addition to the video training.

If you would like a copy, visit Passing Through Our Hands. Cost of the DVD is $15.

Monday, September 23, 2013, 7 pm Meeting at the home of Becky Bohan and Nancy Manahan, 21 East Rustic Lodge Av. Minneapolis 55419. 612-823-1910. Topics will include the Morning Star Singers and experiences from the recent vigil for Leslie Reindl.

June 26, 2013, 7-8:30 pm Free public information forum on caring for our own dead; common myths; burial, cremation, & hydrolysis; and working with a supportive funeral director. Roseville Public Library, 2180 Hamline Ave N, Roseville, MN. No registration required.

May 13, 2013, meeting will focus on enrivronmentally-friendly final disposition options in Minnesota. including “flameless cremation” and eco-cemeteries. 7 pm, the home of Becky Bohan and Nancy Manahan, 21 East Rustic Lodge Av. Minneapolis 55419. 612-823-1910.

April 15, 2013, free screening of the award-winning documentary The Most Excellent Dying of Theodore Jack Heckelman. Join Jack’s wife, Linda Bergh, to view excerpts and hear the inspiring story of Jack’s conscious dying. First Universalist Church, 3400 Dupont Ave. S., Minneapolis. 7-9pm.

Feb. 18 MOVIE NIGHT featuring Departures, the 2009 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film. Monday February 18, 2013, 7PM at the home of Julie Tinberg, 6801 W. 83rd Street Terrace, Bloomington, MN. 55438, 612-245-3137. Popcorn and snacks provided. Free and open to all.

January 22, 2013, 7pm meeting at the home of Linda Bergh, 4315 Xerxes Ave. Minneapolis. 612-927-0894. The topic is Home Funerals 101: The Vigil.

December 17, 2012, 7pm Movie Night at Julie Tinberg’s home, 6801 W 83rd Street Terrace, Bloomington, MN. 55438. The BBC documentary A Family Undertaking will be screened. (Popcorn promised.)

November 19, 2012, 7pm meeting at the home of Becky Bohan and Nancy Manahan, 21 E. Rustic Lodge Ave, Minneapolis 55419. All interested in a more conscious, holistic, environmentally-friendly approach to death are welcome. Focus of this meeting is on green burials and “flameless cremation” (alkaline hydrolysis).

September 17, 2012, 7 pm meeting at Julie Tinberg’s home, 6801 W 83rd Street Terrace, Bloomington, Mn. 55438. All interested in a more conscious, holistic, environmentally-friendly approach to death are welcome. Learn more about family-directed after-death care, green burials, and a MTN field trip to Minnesota’s first commercial “flameless cremation” (alkaline hydrolysis) facility in Stillwater.

June 12, 2012, 6:30 pm When a family member dies, you don’t HAVE to call a funeral director. Simple, legal, inexpensive, eco-friendly, deeply meaningful alternatives exist. Free public information forum on family-directed after-death care and green burials:

Caring for our own deceased Common myths & fears Green burial, cremation, & hydrolysis Working with a supportive funeral director. Special guest speaker: Kyoko Katayama, featured in a Minneapolis Star Tribune piece about the home death of her husband, Eric Stull, M.D. http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/134800073.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue  Washburn Public Library, 5244 Lyndale Ave. S. Mpls. Free.

April 30, 2012 Meeting at the home of  Nancy Manahan & Becky Bohan: 21 Rustic Lodge East, Mpls, 55419, 7 to 9pm. Discussion of ethical issues as they relate to family-directed after-death care.

March 12, 2012 Meeting at the home of  Nancy Manahan & Becky Bohan: 21 Rustic Lodge East, Mpls, 55419, 7 to 9pm. Advanced directives (bring yours/be inspired to complete one), March 9 presentation to U of M School of Mortuary Science, new option for natural burial in Twin Cities, end-of-life stories. Newcomers welcome!

November 14, 2011, 11:30 a.m. Green cemetery tour at Prairie Oaks Memorial EcoGarden. Wear sturdy shoes or boots.  8225 Argenta Trail, Inver Grove Heights.  For more information, visit mygreengrave.com.

November 14, 2011, 7 p.m. Meeting at the home of Linda Bergh,4215 Xerxes Ave., Minneapolis 55410. The film Griefwalker will be shown. This 70-minute documentary from the National Film Board of Canada features a Harvard-educated theologian and leader of a palliative care counseling team at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital who has made it his life’s mission to change the way we die. See a one-minute trailer at youtube.com/watch?v=0g38BFfiZyM