Surviving the holidays
Pat Huska
The GriefShare Ministry of Community Church at SaddleBrooke (CCSB) held a special “Surviving the Holidays” Educational and Support Meeting for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Loss is always difficult, but during the holidays it can seem crushing. Holidays can create fresh memories of our loss and a renewed experience of pain and grief.
This event helped us to learn about being prepared for surprising emotions that may hit over the holidays; how to handle family traditions, holiday parties and invitations; how to survive potentially awkward moments with other people, and where to find comfort, strength and hope in a seemingly hopeless time.
After the video presentation by expert grief counselors, and the small group discussion which helped us to assimilate what we learned, we decorated a Remembrance Christmas candle. We left feeling hopeful and better prepared to face the days to come with a measure of peace and assurance.
Coming attractions: Starting January 14, GriefShare, a highly regarded 13-week educational and support group designed to help you build your life after losing a loved one through death, will meet Thursdays from 1:30–3:30 p.m. at the CCSB Parish House at 36768 S Aaron Lane. For more information call Pat Huska at 520-825-0231.
Community Church at SaddleBrooke meets every Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. in the SaddleBrooke DesertView Theater. We are an all denominational Christian Church and all are welcome.
Andrea Schlecht from Young Lives on the left and Janet Payne from Young Life Capernaum.
Community Church’s Mission Fair
Dick Kroese
After our November 15 service, the Community Church at Saddlebrooke (CCSB) hosted our first annual Missions Fair. We invited all the missions that we support to tell our congregation what they do to make a difference in people’s lives; 12 different organizations attended. Far too often people are asked to give but really do not have an idea as to how the money is being used. The fair was a great success and now our congregation has a better understanding of our missions.
At this year’s fair we provided extra focus for an unmet need of one of the missions we support, the Gospel Rescue Mission. The mission receives a lot of used clothing that is very much needed, but as you can understand, they do not accept used underwear for distribution. To fill that need our congregation enthusiastically supported the “Drop Your Drawers” campaign. Our congregation was asked to bring newly purchased underwear or donate money to purchase men’s, women’s and children’s underwear that were given to the Gospel Rescue Mission. The 500 plus undergarments that were taken to the Gospel Rescue Mission were greatly appreciated and we were assured that this clothing would be even more appreciated by the people they serve.
Community Church at Saddlebrooke meets every Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. in the Saddlebrooke DesertView Theater. We are an all denominational Christian Church and all are welcome.
Should you need support for your grief, come to GriefShare at CCSB.
When someone grieves
Gary Williams
When I was 12 years old I was walking my three-year-old brother, Billy, to the store. We raced across a vacant block to the street. When we stopped I put my hand on his shoulder only to have him dart into the street with excitement. It was then that Billy was hit by a speeding, drunk driver. He was buried on Christmas Eve.
Running home to get Mom, the tragedy had already become a traumatic event in my mind. I lost all visual memory of the episode and could only remember the sound of the contact.
For years I missed my brother and felt responsible for his death. I had no grief counseling or program to enter and, essentially, no support whatsoever, other than family. My Mom had an immediate breakdown and was isolated for at least two weeks. I felt abandoned.
As an adult I began having a recurring nightmare. In my dream I came to a realization that I had murdered someone, but I didn’t know whom. This nightmare would haunt me a couple times a year until I was 51 years old. At that time I took positive steps toward working out my grief over Billy’s death.
It was soon thereafter that I had my final dream. This dream revealed where the person I had murdered was buried. It was Aunt Annie Mae’s house, the place where my mom stayed for those weeks of her breakdown. Suddenly I realized it was Billy whom I thought I had murdered. Healing finally came and I have never again had that nightmare.
Unsupported grief will get us one way or another. It might be memory loss, anger, blame-placing, addictions or one of multiple displays of grief. Rarely can we find complete healing alone. We need support.
One-on-one counseling is very helpful. Group support is quite powerful in other ways. We help each other, we have the advice of many professionals and we have a solid spiritual base to support our healing.
That’s what the Community Church at Saddlebrooke (CCSB) provides through its 13-week GriefShare program beginning Thursday, January 14 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the CCSB Parish House, 36768 S. Aaron Lane. GriefShare provides caring, sharing, video seminars, discussion and workbooks. The subsidized cost is $10 per person to cover the workbook. Call Pat Huska at 825-0231 for information.
Community Church at Saddlebrooke meets every Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. in the Saddlebrooke DesertView Theater. We are an all denominational Christian Church and all are welcome.