GriefShare

GriefShare will meet Wednesdays, from January 4 through April 19 (dates subject to change).

GriefShare is a seminar and support group designed to help you rebuild your life after the death of a loved one. It’s led by people who understand your hurt and want to help you find comfort and encouragement.

IPC's GriefShare group begins in January and meets for 13 weeks on Wednesday nights, from 6:00-7:30 p.m., in Room 233. (Our GriefShare group is for women, but we'll help men find a GriefShare group at another church.)

Each session includes a video featuring experts in grief recovery, then a discussion with your small group. GriefShare group members often develop close relationships and become supportive friends.

For more information about GriefShare at Independent Presbyterian Church, contact Dr. Lisa Turner, Director of Women's Ministry, at womens@ipcmemphis.org, or call (901) 685-8206.

Read more about GriefShare at griefshare.org and scroll down to view this semester's schedule.

Jan. 4 | Session 1: Is This Normal?

• You’ll discover why your grief experience is harder than you imagined
• Why the intensity and duration of your emotions are normal and appropriate
• Despite how you feel right now, there is reason for hope

Jan. 11 | Session 2: Challenges of Grief

• You’ll learn more eye-opening reasons why your pain is so overwhelming
• Some of the overlooked, yet common, effects grief has on your mind, body, and spirit
• How to get things done when you don’t feel like you have any energy

Jan. 18 | Session 3: The Journey of Grief – Part One

• You’ll learn helpful goals to set on your journey of grief
• How to deal with those who try to rush you through your grief
• How long the journey of grief typically lasts

Jan. 25 | Session 4: The Journey of Grief – Part Two

• You’ll learn why it’s important to put effort into your healing
• How the events surrounding your loved one’s death affect your grief
• The best ways to deal with your loved one’s belongings

Feb. 1 | Session 5: Grief and Your Relationships

• You’ll find out how the death of a loved one affects your friendships
• Why solitude can be a blessing and a curse
• How to deal with friends who don’t understand your grief

Feb. 8 | Session 6: Why?

• This session demonstrates that God wants you to share your feelings with Him
• Why being honest with God is an expression of faith
• What God has to say to you about your “why” questions

Feb. 15 | IPC Missions Conference Session 7: Guilt and Anger

• You’ll learn how to deal with false guilt
• How to grieve conflicted relationships
• How to handle grief-related anger

Feb. 22 | no meeting | IPC Missions Conference 

Mar. 1 | Session 8: Complicating Factors

• You’ll begin to see how traumatic experiences affect grief
• How to deal with nightmares and flashbacks
• How your thinking affects your emotions

Mar. 8 | Session 9: Stuck

• You’ll discover how to prevent getting stuck in grief
• Common misconceptions that hinder healing
• Why your path to healing isn’t always smooth

Mar. 15 | no meeting | Spring Break
 

Mar. 22 | Session 10: Lessons of Grief – Part One

• You’ll become aware of an often-overlooked reason that grief is so painful
• Why going to church can be so difficult
• The benefits of helping others

Mar. 29 | Session 11: Lessons of Grief – Part Two

• This session provides a more complete picture of who you are now that your loved one is gone
• Why no one grieves perfectly
• What grief can teach you about relationships

Apr. 5 | no meeting | Holy Week
 

Apr. 12| Session 12: Heaven

• Session 12 answers questions about heaven and the afterlife, such as what heaven is like
• Whether you should communicate with your deceased loved one
• Whether near-death experiences are reliable descriptions of heaven
• And many more

Apr. 19 | Session 13: What Do I Live for Now?

• You’ll learn why moving forward is a necessity
• Why it’s a process
• Why peace and pain will always coexist