Our grief support group offers emotional support to all who have experienced a significant loss in their lives.
Grief is a natural, healthy reaction but often manifests itself in a bewildering cluster of emotions. These emotions can be confusing and intensify the distress suffered through loss. Also, because we live in a culture that tends not to support overt expressions of grief , we need reminding that the act of grieving shows that we care and it is not a sign of weakness.
Grief can be sparked by all kinds of different losses besides the obvious one of death. Divorce, illness, bankruptcy, loss of dreams and loss of a pet, loss of a job, loss of self or loss of a loved one to addictions, can all provoke profound grief.
Our events are designed to meet the needs of grieving people. We offer:
- Empathy
- Community support
- Education that grief is a healthy response to a loss
- The opportunity to be with somebody who has been there
- Personalized strategies
Our program is completed funded by donations from our congregation. Nobody will be turned away due to lack of a donation. All donations will receive a receipt providing we have the full name, address and phone number of the individual. Income tax receipts are issued for donations over $20.
– The group will meet once a month on a Sunday in the months of May and June and July.
Location: 247 Linwood Crescent, Burlington L7L 4A2
Phone: 905-639-LOVE (5683)
Here are the dates and details of each session in Burlington. Please join us for any or all meetings.
SEASON OF NUMBNESS – Sun. May 29, 2011, 4 pm to 5:30 pm
Did you know that the symptoms of your grief can carry on for many years after the actual loss? You may be experiencing shock, lack of concentration, crying for no reason, or apathy, fatigue, depression, decline in health or insomnia. You may be experiencing nothing at all and feel quite odd about that. Your feelings of numbness could even be interpreted as a sign of strength.
Whatever you are experiencing in the aftermath of loss can be addressed as a first step to healing. Healing will also be facilitated by the personal insight you’ll gain about yourself through the UOUFC spiritual Assessment .
SEASON OF DISORIENTATION, YEARNING and CONFRONTATION – Sun. June 26, 2011, 4 pm to 5:30 pm
You may find yourself feeling explosive w emotions of anger, sadness, anxiety and confusion. Impatience and irritability are with you all of the time. Remember that what you are experiencing is a healthy response to grief, but getting help now will greatly facilitate your journey. We invite you to join us for an exploration of how to cope during this difficult stage. By referencing your UOUFC spiritual assessment we can help tailor a personal approach for you, based on individual needs.
SEASON OF ADJUSTMENT, RECONCILIATION and RECORGANIZATION – Sun. July 17, 2011, 4 pm to 5:30 pm
As every snowflake is unique, similarly every grief journey is unique. How has your life changed in light of the loss? What changes have you had to make to adapt to your loss?
Season of adjustment is the precursor to your new life. You learn to live with your loss as you reinvest your energy in people, ideas and new things.
Reconciliation of grief means coming to the place where you can accept your life as meaningful, even in the light of your loss. When you learn how to integrate loss into your life, and to affirm that life is still meaningful, then you have come full circle in your grief journey.
