Pequea Church, 40 Church Road, Lancaster, will host the first session of a new GriefShare program on Tuesday, Aug. 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sessions will continue every Tuesday until the final meeting on Nov. 14, which will include a dinner and candle-lighting ceremony.
GriefShare is a program designed to provide resources for those experiencing the loss of a loved one. The material is rooted in biblical teachings, and it seeks to offer an environment of support for people to build relationships with others who have encountered the same difficulties. Participants in the program include those in the Penn Manor, Quarryville and Willow Street communities, but anyone who is interested in participating may register.
This year, GriefShare will be using the fourth edition of the program. The latest edition has been overhauled to include topics that relate to suicide, loneliness, fear, sadness and anxiety, and it will detail methods that can be used to manage such issues. The new version of the program will also cover challenges that have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"These topics are important. People have been more isolated over these last few years from the pandemic," said Trina Barr, who first introduced the program to Pequea Church in 2003. "Mental health is not often talked about in the same way we talk about other health issues, and there's a need for it."
This will be the first time that GriefShare has released a new edition since 2014, and the changes to the program also include switching the length of its informational videos from 45 minutes to 30 minutes. Barr hopes that this change will allow the group to have more time for sharing and discussion during each meeting. The meetings will still be hosted by Dave Perry and Sherry Mull, who have served as group leaders for the program in the past.
Barr was inspired to introduce the program to Pequea Church after she attended a grief support group through Hospice & Community Care. Barr joined the group following the loss of her younger brother, and she found it to be a helpful resource as she navigated the process of mourning. She desired to share this experience with others and has organized GriefShare programs for nearly 20 years, taking a short break in 2017.
Due to a gift from an anonymous donor, the GriefShare program is free to sign up for. Registration will be accepted at any point during the program. To register, call the church office at 717-872-5679 or email Barr at jebarr@frontier.com.
Leave a Review