Grief Share classes offer bereavement support

Pastor Pete Van Dyke will be conducting a 13-week Grief Share class starting Monday, Jan. 6, at Canyon Lake Community Church. Morning and evening classes are offered. Photo provided by Pat Van Dyke

Grief Share offers encouragement, direction and support for those who have lost a loved one, whether the loss occurred a few months ago or years ago. A 13-week Grief Share class starts on Monday, Jan. 6, in Building A at Canyon Lake Community Church. Classes are held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. For those who can’t attend the morning sessions, a duplicate class is offered in the evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Each week is “self-contained,” so one does not have to attend at the beginning of the 13-week session. Participants will find encouragement and help whenever they begin.

The classes are conducted by Pastor Pete Van Dyke. There is no charge to attend. To register, call 951-244-1877, ext. 204.

Grief Share is an international organization formed by Church Initiative located in Wake Forest, North Carolina. There are thousands of active Grief Share support groups in the United States, Canada and 10 other countries.

Each session has three distinct elements. Each week, the group watches a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects and then spends time as a support group discussing what was presented in that week’s video seminar and how it can be lived out in their lives.

During the week, participants will have the opportunity to use their workbook for further personal study of the grieving process and to help sort out their emotions through journaling.

Several topics will be addressed in class, such as why one’s grief experience is harder than they may have imagined and how to get things done when one does not have the energy.