Gateway Church to present GriefShare seminar

For those who have lost a loved one, Thanksgiving and Christmas can be a difficult time. Especially challenging can be family gatherings where a person's friend or family member is particularly missed.

To help people cope during the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas, a Surviving the Holidays seminar will be presented on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Gateway Church in Parkesburg.

The meeting will be led by Paul and Twila Ranck, who facilitate weekly GriefShare meetings at the church. Participants will discuss several topics, including how to deal with the many emotions they will face during the holidays and what to do about traditions and other changes. They will also be provided with tips about how to navigate social events.

"Surviving the Holidays is a stand-alone group. It will focus on the six weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas," Twila explained. "We will also touch on (handling grief during) birthdays and anniversaries."

The curriculum for the program comes from Church Initiative, a nondenominational, nonprofit ministry that creates and publishes video-based programs that help churches minister to people experiencing life crises. Church Initiative programs include DivorceCare, GriefShare and Single and Parenting. "(The curriculum) has been rewritten, and we will run the new version," Twila noted. "Church Initiative is based in Wake Forest, N.C. It helps the leaders run the programs."

Twila said that attendees will learn how to walk the line between staying at home and not dealing with the holidays versus attending social functions as they have previously done.

"We try to find the balance between overcommitting and doing everything everyone asks of you and sitting home as a hermit," Twila noted. "Yes, you did that with your spouse or child or aunt, but they are not here now. (We discuss) what is yours to do and what you did with them and how to sort it out."

"Grief is hard work," she added. "You can't do everything, but you also don't want to sit at home. It's finding that balance. It's about how to move on while honoring your loved one."

Each person who attends Surviving the Holidays will receive his or her own manual. "It has a journal and a small devotional for each day. There are also tips to refer to," Twila said.

Those who are hesitant to attend the upcoming program may bring a family member or friend for support. "It's appropriate to bring support people with you - pastors, counselors or friends - to help them understand what you are navigating those few weeks," Twila noted.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.gtwy.life and choose "Surviving the Holidays/GriefShare Seminar." Walk-ins will also be welcome. Gateway Church is located at 160 Cowan Road, Parkesburg.

The final regular GriefShare session at the church will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m. The topic will be "What Do I Live For Now?" For more information, visit http://www.griefshare.org/groups/170824.

Those with questions may email Twila@familiescatalog.com.