Series will help people through grief

Talk about it

Endings are sad. And it’s a cold hard fact of life that most things have an end, be it the end of life itself, the loss of a job or the breaking up of a relationship.

The Bible says in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun.

Knowing something is supposed to end doesn’t make it easy to understand, though. And dealing with grief can be difficult.

St. Joseph Church pastor Paul Jarvis will present as part of a four-week Growing through Loss series offered by the Inter-denominational Coalition of South Suburban Churches. His presentation, “God is not the source of suffering but the source of healing,” will talk about how to find God in times of hardship.

“I think we are really susceptible to grief. When tragedy comes it really shakes our world,” said Jarvis.

Everyone at one point or another will face loss, so Jarvis said it’s crucial we understand that and learn where to turn for comfort.

The four-week series will cover various areas of loss and grief. Pastoral care minister Jamie Moloney said the coalition puts on two grief series a year—one in the spring and one in the fall. She said the series tries to cover all sorts of loss, not just death. The coalition has been around since 1994.

Other presenters for the spring series will include Patricia Richardson, a clinical social worker and family therapist from Northfield, who will speak on Weaving in the Threads of Loss; Sister Martha Alken, a retreat leader who will speak on Loss, Grief and Forgiveness; and Tom and Julie Allen, who will share their story on living with Alzheimers. The series will begin March 1 with Richardson’s presentation. Jarvis will present March 8 and the others will be March 15 and 22..

Julie Allen has early onset Alzheimers and the couple will share their journey through the disease.

The coalition hosts the grief series in a different location each series to touch different areas in Dakota County. All four presentations of this series will be held at All Saints Catholic Church, 19795 Holyoke Ave. in Lakeville.

Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and speakers will present at 6:55 p.m. Support groups, facilitated by trained leaders, will follow at 8 p.m. Suggested donation per session is $3, but no one will be turned away.

This program is offered to any adult experiencing a loss or major crisis and to pastoral ministers. For more information call 952-890-0045 or e-mail gtl@mmotc.org.

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