GriefShare
GriefShare is open to anyone who is recovering from the loss of a loved one regardless of church affiliation. The only cost of the course is a one-time purchase of a GriefShare workbook ($20). The workbook is an essential part of the program that guides the discussion during the support meeting, provides guidance and reflection throughout the week, and reinforces and extends the content of the weekly meetings.
Loss can happen at any time. Although GriefShare is a 13 week program, it is designed so that a person can enter the sequence at any time, attend as many sessions as they want, and leave whenever they want.
GriefShare will begin Monday, October 19 and continue each Monday evening through January 2016 in the Laredo Room at Robson Ranch.
About Griefshare
Losing a close loved one can be one of the most devastating experiences in life. We are thrown into a state of confusion that can last a very long time. Am I normal? Is it OK to feel the way I do? When will this pain go away, or will I always feel this way? What do I do next? What if I feel like I just can’t do anything? How do I respond to other people? Do I really need to “get over it”? What if I just want to be alone? What if I start crying at the wrong time? What will the new normal be like?
GriefShare support can help with these questions. It provides a prayerful, Christian support environment where it is safe to talk freely, or just to listen to others who are also making this journey from mourning to joy. It includes prayer, discussion, a video presentation, and fellowship. The video presentations include discussions by many Christian experts on grief, all of whom have experienced terrible losses themselves. Active participation in the discussion is not required – the focus is on comfort, support, and healing.
Group Leadership
Each weekly session will be led by Steve and Beth Durfee. They have suffered the loss of two children in recent years, and have been through the GriefShare support program multiple times. They have found it very helpful, and now feel a calling to share the ministry with others.
Weekly session topics:
Each week your group will watch a video seminar on DVD. The GriefShare videos cover topics essential to your recovery from the hurt of grief and loss. The 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.
Here is a snapshot of some key themes found in each of the 13 GriefShare session videos.
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 and despite how you feel right now, there is reason for hope.
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; and how to get things done when you don’t feel like you have any energy.
3. The Journey of Grief – Part One
You’ll learn helpful goals to set on your journey of grief; how to deal with those who try to rush you through your grief; and how long the journey of grief typically lasts.
4. The Journey of Grief – Part Two
5. Grief and your relationships
6. Why?
7. Guilt and anger
8. Complicating factors
9. Stuck
10. Lessons of grief (part one)
11. Lessons of grief (part two)
12. Heaven
13. What do I live for now?
A more thorough description of the program and topics may be found at GriefShare.org. Beth and Steve can be contacted at 801-556-7420 (Beth) 385-252-9074 (Steve) or by email at bdurf21@msn.com