RANGELEY – The Rangeley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, board of deacons will host a three-week educational series on end-of-life issues in the Barn beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12.

The program, presented by area members of the Western Maine Palliative Care and Hospice Coalition, is designed to introduce participants to various issues in end-of-life care and to facilitate discussion on the topic.

Cameron Bopp, MD, hospice physician and coalition chairman, will present the first session, “Dying Well: Making Choices.” Bopp will discuss hospice and palliative care as options in end-of-life care.

The second program, to be held on Sept. 19, is titled “Planning Well: Advance Directives.” Ed David, attorney-at-law, will discuss the importance of completing the document that provides specific instructions for medical care in the event of a terminal illness, accident or other life-threatening event. Advance medical directive forms will be available free for participants who desire them. Participants are encouraged to bring family members to the event to assist them in understanding the directive.

The third program in the series, Sept. 26, is titled, “Honoring Well: Bereavement and Remembrance.” The session, presented by Rhonda Wiles, funeral director and bereavement specialist, will focus on the process of bereavement and ways to honor the memories of loved ones to facilitate healing.

The series is part of a continuing effort by the coalition to encourage quality end-of-life care for area residents. Coalition members include representatives from several area health care organizations, including Franklin Memorial Hospital, a nonprofit organizations and UMF faculty, as well as clergy, physicians, a local attorney and other professionals and interested individuals.

The mission of the coalition is to improve the system of care at the end of life in the community through research, education and networking to promote the best quality of life for dying patients and their families.

The series is open to the public as well as to members of the area churches. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call the Rev. Anne Roundy, Rangeley Congregational Church, at 864-5966. To learn more about the coalition, contact Corey Walmer at 778-5752.