Good Shepherd Parish is honored to provide a
GriefShare program. When someone loses a loved one it is never easy, and coping at times may be a struggle. Know that you are never alone. GriefShare is a friendly, caring group who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experience. We offer support, comfort and guidance as you search for understanding and healing.
We also offer a
"Suriving the Holidays," session which
will help guide you through some practical ways to work through those difficult moments that may arise during the Thanksgiving or Christmas season as a result of the loss you have experienced.
Each program provides you with biblical-based support through prayer, video presentation focused on each session (with profession, religous and personal witness), and group discussion where you may share with others who are experiencing grief in their own lives.
We invite you to join us. Call us for more information at 207-282-3321.
Grief Share 2019 Session Each session includes a video series and group discussion
2019 Fall Good Shepherd Grief Ministry Program: Date: August 22-Oct. 24, 2019 MHT Youth Room
Time: 6:30-8:00pm Special Feature: November 14 6:30-8:00 MHT Church - SURVIVING THE HOLIDAY
Week 1 - August 22, 2019
Session 1 IS IT NORMAL?
Week 2 - August 29, 2019
Session 2 CHALLENGES OF GRIEF
Week 3 - September 5, 2019
Session 3 THE JOURNEY OF GRIEF (part 1) Session 4 THE JOURNEY OF GRIEF (part 2) brief discussions
Week 4 - September 12, 2019
Session 5 GRIEF AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP
Week 5 - September 19. 2019
Session 6 WHY
Week 6 - September 26, 2019
Session 7 GUILT AND ANGER
Week 7 - October 3, 2019
Session 8 COMPLICATED GRIEF
Week 8 - October 10, 2019
Session 9 STUCK
Week 9 - October 17, 2019
Session 10 LESSONS OF GRIEF (part 1) Session 11 LESSONS OF GRIEF (part 2) brief discussions
Week 10 - October 24, 2019
Session 12 HEAVEN Session 13 WHAT DO I LIVE FOR NOW? brief discussion
Special Session: November 14, 2019 MHT Church 6:30-8:00pm SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS SESSION This 2 hour
Surviving The Holidays grief session is
open to all parishioners.
GreifShare 2018 highlights of each session:
Session 1:Is This Normal During this session particpants will discover: -Why our grief experience is harder than we imagined
-Why the intensity and duration of our emotions are normal and appropriate
-Despite how we feel right now, there is reason for hope
Session 2: Challenges of Grief During this session particpants will discover: -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
Session 3: What the Journey of Grief Is Part I During this session particpants will discover: -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
Session 4: What the Journey of Grief Is-Part II During this session particpants will discover: -Why is it important to put effort in your healing
- How the events surrounding your loved one’s death affect your grief
- The best ways to deal with our loved one’s belonging
Session 5: Grief and Relationship During this session particpants will discover: -How the death of a loved one affects friendships
-Why solitude can be a blessing and a curse
-How to deal with friends who don’t understand your grief
Session 6: Why During this session particpants will discover: -God wants us to share our feelings with Him
-Why being honest with God is an expression of faith
-What God has to say to us about our “why” questions
Session 7: Guilt and Anger During this session particpants will discover: -How to deal with false guilt
-How to grieve conflicted relationships
-How to handle grief-related anger
Session 8: Complicating Factors During this session particpants will discover: -How traumatic experiences affect grief
-How to deal with nightmares and flashbacks
-How our thinking affects our emotions
Session 9: STUCK During this session particpants will discover: -How to prevent getting stuck in grief
-Common misconceptions that hinder healing
-Why our path to healing is not always smooth
Session 10: Lessons of Grief – Part I During this session particpants will discover: -An often-overlooked reason that grief is so painful
-Why going to church can be so difficult
-The benefit of helping others
Session 11: Lessons of Grief – Part II During this session particpants will discover: -Who we are now that our loved one is gone
-Why no one grieves perfectly
-What grief can teach us about relationships
Session 12: Heaven During this session particpants will discover: -What is heaven like
-Whether we should communicate with our deceased loved one
-Whether near-death experiences are reliable descriptions of heaven
-More answers to our questions about heaven
Session 13: What do I live for now During this session particpants will discover: -Why moving forward is a necessity
-Why it is a process
-Why peace and pain will always coexist
Testamonials:
Grief is for anyonoe who feels a loss they cannot recover from without the extra grace from God.
Wow! Since I was seven years old I've been afraid of dying...Its funny now when my husband died, how depressed I was...when griefshare was offered, I ran to it! It amazes me how quickly we all bonded, and how it changed my life.
After my husband and mother passed away 15 years ago, I just decided to go to work to retire. Now that I am retired, I realize I need to work at this (their deaths)...I feel safe at these meetings; people sharing their feelings honestly and it is helping me! These meetings are what I needed. I plan on attending the next year sessions.
I have lost my sister many years ago and was attending this grief share program to help others. After the first few sessions, I realized that I had unresolved issues about her death. The videos and the sharing in groups have help me a lot!
I have developed some close friends from this griefshare.
These griefshare sessions have given me my the love of scripture again! The people in the films helped me find much encouragement and comfort from the Word of God.
One thing I learned is that you can develop a closer union with God by taking the habit of talking with Him more often when you miss your loved one.
I learned to accept that I'm not in charge. My loved one was (is) a gift from God, and that I must continue to fulfill God's purpose for me on earth.
Attending the grief share program has been a spiritual place or refuge for me. I've learned I'm not alone and many of the daily challenges I face others face too.
Sharing our stories has enriched my life and brought me closer to my faith.