GriefShare, a grief recovery support group, to begin Oct. 12

A support group for those who have lost loved ones will begin Oct. 12 at the Canyon Lake Community Church and is open to the general public.

The 13-week class will be led by the church’s Pastor Peter VanDyke in which he reaches out to help those who have lost someone as recent as a few months ago or as long ago as years since the actual loss.

In this class, Pastor Pete said he will provide a safe place where grieving family members and friends can find tools to help them deal with the stress which accompanies the death of a loved one.

“Stress has been identified as America’s number one health problem and causes a person to experience many negative issues,” Pastor Pete said. “A person’s physical and mental health is greatly affected by the stress that one may be enduring at that time. One of the greatest stress factors in life is the death of a loved one.”

For the past eight years, Canyon Lake Community Church has provided GriefShare, which is a friendly and caring group of people who will walk alongside others through one of life’s most difficult experiences.

During the many sessions that have been held by Pastor Pete over the years, many of the participants relate how being involved in these sessions has helped them to face life once again with hope and a positive attitude, he said.

At each session, the GriefShare group watches a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects. After viewing the video, group members spend time as a support group and discuss what was presented in that week’s video seminar and how it can be lived out in their own lives. During the week, participants have the opportunity to use their workbook for further personal study of the grieving process and to help sort out their emotions through journaling.

In the classes, several topics will be addressed such as why one’s grief experience is harder than they may have imagined. Helpful goals to set on the journey of grief will be discussed. The issue of dealing with those who try to rush one through one’s grief will be discussed along with why the path to healing from grief isn’t always smooth. How to get things done when one does not have the energy is always a popular topic.

Classes are held on 13 consecutive Mondays beginning Oct. 12. Duplicate classes are held at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. which allows participants flexibly in scheduling each week. The classes are held in Building A (chapel) at the church, which is located on the first parking lot near the entrance to the campus.

For those interested in attending the class, Pastor Pete can be contacted by leaving a message on his office phone, 951-244-1877 ext. 204, or by simply showing up at a meeting.

Participants can be anybody with a desire to attend and do not need to be an attender of Canyon Lake Community Church. Class members do not need to attend all 13 sessions as each session is “self-contained.” They will find encouragement and help whenever they begin, Pastor Pete said.

Face masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.