“GriefShare” is offered for those who have recently lost a loved one. It is a 13-week video seminar series discussing various aspects of the grief journey, followed by discussion. GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk with you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Our first meeting will be on Sunday, February 15, and we will meet every Sunday from 1 to 2:30 pm through May 17.
Each week, we will watch a video seminar on DVD that will cover topics essential to recovery from the hurt of grief and loss. Videos are produced in a compelling television magazine format and feature interviews with grief recovery experts, mini-dramas, on-location video, and real-life stories of people who have experienced the death of a loved one.
If you wish to attend some – but not all – sessions, this schedule may offer guidance:
February 15, Week 1: Is This Normal?
– You’ll discover why your grief experience is harder than you imagined
– Why the intensity and duration of your emotions are normal and appropriate
– Despite how you feel right now, there is reason for hope
February 22, Week 2: Challenges of Grief
– You’ll learn more eye-opening reasons why your pain is so overwhelming
– Some of the overlooked, yet common, effects grief has on your mind, body and spirit
– How to get things done when you don’t feel like you have any energy
March 1, Week 3: The Journey of Grief – Part One
– Learn helpful goals to set on your journey of grief
– How to deal with those who try to rush you through your grief
– How long the journey of grief typically lasts
March 8, Week 4: The Journey of Grief – Part Two
– Learn why it’s important to put effort into your healing
– How the events surrounding your loved one’s death affect your grief
– The best ways to deal with your loved one’s belongings
March 15, Week 5: Grief and Your Relationships
– You’ll find out how the death of a loved one affects your relationships
– Why solitude can be a blessing and a curse
– How to deal with friends who don’t understand your grief
March 22, Week 6: Why?
– This session demonstrates that God wants you to share your feelings with Him
– Why being honest with God is an expression of faith
– What God has to say to you about your “why” questions
March 29, Week 7: Guilt and Anger
– You’ll learn how to deal with false guilt
– How to grieve conflicted relationships
– How to handle grief-related anger
April 5: EASTER – no meeting
April 12, Week 8: Complicating Factors
– You’ll begin to see how traumatic experiences affect grief
– How to deal with nightmares and flashbacks
– How your thinking affects your emotions
April 19, Week 9: Stuck
– Discover how to prevent getting stuck in grief
– Common misconceptions that hinder healing
– Why the path to healing isn’t always smooth
April 26, Week 10: Lessons of Grief – Part One
– Become aware of an often-overlooked reason that grief is so painful
– Why going to church can be so difficult
– The benefits of helping others
May 3, Week 11: Lessons of Grief – Part Two
– Gain a more complete picture of who you are now that your loved one is gone
– Why no one grieves perfectly
– What grief can teach you about relationships
May 10, Week 12: Heaven
– Answers questions about heaven and the afterlife, such as what is heaven like
– Whether you should communicate with your deceased loved one
– Whether near-death experiences are reliable descriptions of heaven
May 17, Week 13: What Do I Live for Now?
– Learn why moving forward is a necessity
– Why it’s a process
– Why peach and pain will always coexist
For more information or to sign up, please contact the church office.
