Grief Resources:

Events and Print/Multimedia

Ongoing Grief Resources:

Fairview Hospital
Bereavement Support Group
Offers support for families and friends who have lost a loved one.
Second Thursday of every month – walk in, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fairview Hospital Wellness Center, Room 100, 3035 Wooster Road, Rocky River
For more information call Kendall Lancaster, Hospice of Cleveland Clinic 216.444.9819
 

Fairview Hospital
Six-Week Bereavement Support Group Series
Offers help, education and sharing for caregivers, friends and family members
who have lost their loved ones.
Series offered March, July and November
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (twice a year); 6:30 – 8 p.m. (once a year)
Fairview Hospital Wellness Center, 3035 Wooster Road, Rocky River
To register call Kendall Lancaster, Hospice of Cleveland Clinic 216.444.9819

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Past News:

Spring 2007 Grief Recovery Workgroup

There are many events that can create the range of human emotions called “grief.” Death of a loved one, divorce, loss of career, loss of hopes and dreams, health issues and significant life changes head the list. Whether your loss was recent or long ago, the step-by-step process offered in this 10-week Grief Recovery Workgroup will allow you to address and complete the pain of loss, while restoring hope and the ability to take joy in life. This program is conducted by Certified Grief Recovery Specialists.

The next workgroup is scheduled to begin::

Monday, April 16, 2007
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
West Park United Church of Christ
3909 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland

For more information or to register, call 216-363-2220. The fee of $75.00 includes books and materials. Pre-registration is required. Scholarships are available.
 

*** If you are interested in joining one of our upcoming groups, please call us. We are creating a list of people for future groups, and may arrange time and location to best suit the needs of potential participants. ***

This program is made possible through the partnership of Pastor Care Department of Fairview, Lakewood, and Lutheran Hospitals, the Fairview/Lutheran Foundation, and Lutheran Agencies Organized in Service (LAOS).

+++ Note: All members of Franklin Circle Christian Church are eligible to receive a scholarship to attend this workshop.  Please contact Pastor Allen for details.

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Moving Beyond Loss
 

Location West Park United Church of Christ, 3909 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland
April 9, 2007
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
 We all live with the sadness of grief, but do we know how to move beyond it? Chaplain
Robin Schreiber will present new ways to resolve the pain of loss, developed by the
Grief Recovery® Institute. Topics include: defining grief, myths about grief, behaviors
that help, what to say to grievers and more.

Contact Information Reservations: toll free 1.877.234.FITT (3488)
 

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Special Guest Preacher, Sunday, October 8: The Rev. Jim Kulma

Director of Spiritual Care Services for the Cleveland Clinic Health System, Western Region

In light of the number of deaths this congregation has experienced in the past year, both of members and family of members of the congregation, several avenues are being explored by Pastor Allen and the Elders to help the church deal with the cumulative grief we are experiencing.  One opportunity is to have a trained grief specialist and friend of Franklin Circle Christian Church preach for us on October 8.

In 2002 the Rev. Jim Kulma was been appointed to the position of director of Spiritual Care Services for the Cleveland Clinic Health System - Western Region, which comprises Fairview, Lakewood and Lutheran Hospitals.  Previously, the Rev. Kulma served as director of Pastoral Care at Lutheran Hospital from September of 1988.

In his current role, Rev. Kulma is responsible for organizing and coordinating the spiritual care programs at the three hospitals.  He also facilitates outreach to the religious communities and clergy supporting Fairview, Lakewood and Lutheran Hospitals.

Before coming to Lutheran Hospital 13 years ago, Rev. Kulma served three years as pastor at All Saints Lutheran Church in Olmsted Falls and one year as an alcoholism counselor.  He received his bachelor's degree at Bowling Green State University, and his masters of divinity at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and his clinical residency at Richland Memorial Hospital, both in Columbia, South Carolina.

Rev. Kulma currently serves on the board of directors at West Side Ecumenical Ministry and has served as president of the local Shared Ministry ministerium.  He is an outstanding Biblical storyteller, and is a member of the Network of Biblical Storytellers.  He is also a certified instructor in Tai Chi Chuan, and has made two trips to China to study traditional Chinese health practices.

Following the October 8 service, Rev. Kulma will speak with those interested about other possibilities for dealing with grief, individually and as a church.

Rev. Kulma lives in Lakewood with his wife, Toni.  They have three children in college.

Grief Recovery Workgroup at Lutheran Hospital

[THIS GROUP IS NOW CLOSED -- WATCH FOR FUTURE GROUPS TO BE ANNOUNCED HERE.]

+++ Note: All members of Franklin Circle Christian Church are eligible to receive a scholarship to attend this workshop.  Please contact Pastor Allen for details.

Grief Recovery Workgroup

An action program for moving beyond loss.

There are many events that can create the range of human emotions called grief.  Death of a loved one, divorce, loss of career, loss of dreams and hopes, health issues, and significant life changes head the list.  Whether you loss was recent or long ago, it may be limiting your ability to participate fully in life.  The step-by-step process of this 10-week ac tion workgroup will allow you to address and complete the pain due to loss, while restoring hope and whole and the ability to take joy in life.  It is intended to teach you some basic skills that will help you face life's losses, and move beyond them.  This workgroup is conducted by Certified Grief Recovery Specialists.

This fall, two 10-week workgroups are scheduled to begin:

Wednesday, September 13,  10:30 a.m. - noon; Trinity Lutheran Church, 16400 Detroit Rd., Lakewood.

Tuesday, September 19, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Rockport United Methodist Church, 3301 Wooster Rd., Rocky River.

The cost of the 10 week workgroup is $75 (includes materials).  Pre-registration and scholarships are available.

For more information or to register, call 216-363-2220

This program made possible as the result of a partnership between the Pastoral Care Departments of Fairview, Lakewood, and Lutheran Hospitals and the support of the Fairview/Lutheran Foundation and Luterhan Agencies Organized in Service (LAOS)

For more information, come to one of the 1-hour introductory forums:

Wednesday, September 6 10:30 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 16400 Detroit Rd., Lakewood.

Thursday, September 7, 6:00 p.m., The Castelle Learning Center, Lutheran Hospital, 1730 W. 25th St.

Tuesday, September 12, 6:30 p.m., Rockport United Methodist Church, 3301 Wooster Rd., Rocky River.

For a flyer in pdf format, CLICK HERE!

Print and Multimedia Resources

Grief Recovery Institute Website

http://www.grief-recovery.com/index.html

Check out the "Helpful Articles" link at the top of the Home page.

Good Grief:  A Constructive Approach to the Problem of Loss

A classic resource, this book describes what happens to us whenever we lose someone or something important. It can be used over the years as individuals encounter a wider variety of grief experiences or as they assist friends in moving beyond grief to good grief. Examines the stages of grief, from stage one - a state of shock - to stage ten - a struggle to affirm reality.

Order from Cokesbury Bookstore at http://www.cokesbury.com/search.aspx?pid=060116

Article: Coping with Grief: What Is Grief?

Grief occurs in response to the loss of someone or something very dear to us. Grief is a natural response to this loss. Losses that might lead to grief include the death or separation of a loved one, the loss of a job, death or loss of a beloved pet, or any number of other changes in life such as divorce, "empty nest syndrome," or retirement. Anyone can experience grief and loss, but each person is unique in how he or she experiences these feelings. People respond to loss in many ways. Some of these responses are healthy coping mechanisms, while others might hinder the grieving process.

The acknowledgment of grief helps to promote the healing process. Time and support facilitate the grieving process, allowing an opportunity for a person to appropriately mourn a loss.

Common reactions to grief or loss
Individuals might react to grief or loss in a variety of ways. The stages of grief reflect a variety of reactions that might surface as an individual tries to make sense of how a loss affects him or her. An important part of the healing process is allowing oneself to experience and accept all feelings that are experienced. The following are the stages of grief:

* Denial, numbness, and shock—This stage serves to protect the individual from experiencing the intensity of the loss. It might be useful when the grieving person must take action (such as making funeral arrangements). Numbness is a normal reaction to an immediate loss and should not be confused with "lack of caring." As the individual slowly acknowledges the impact of the loss, denial and disbelief will diminish.
* Bargaining—This stage might involve persistent thoughts about what could have been done to prevent the loss. People can become preoccupied about ways that things could have been better. If this stage is not properly resolved, intense feelings of remorse or guilt might interfere with the healing process.
* Depression—This stage of grief occurs in some people after they realize the true extent of the loss. Signs of depression include sleep and appetite disturbances, a lack of energy and concentration, and crying spells. A person might feel loneliness, emptiness, isolation, and self-pity.
* Anger—This reaction usually occurs when an individual feels helpless and powerless. Anger can stem from a feeling of abandonment through a loved one’s death. An individual might be angry at a higher power or toward life in general.
* Acceptance—In time, an individual might be able to come to terms with various feelings and accept the fact that the loss has occurred. Healing can begin once the loss becomes integrated into the individual’s set of life experiences.

Remember, throughout a person’s lifetime, he or she might return to some of the earlier stages of grief. There is no time limit to the grieving process. Each individual should define his or her own healing process.

Factors that might hinder the healing process
Some factors might hinder the healing process following a loss. These can include:

* Overworking oneself on the job
* Medicating with drugs, alcohol, or other substances/compulsive behaviors
* Avoiding emotions
* Minimizing feelings

Factors that might help resolve grief
An individual can help to resolve grief by:

* Allowing time to experience thoughts and feelings openly to self
* Expressing feelings openly or writing journal entries about them
* Remembering that crying can provide a release
* Confiding in a trusted person about the loss
* Acknowledging and accepting both positive and negative feelings
* Finding bereavement groups in which there are other people who have had similar losses
* Seeking professional help if feelings become overwhelming

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