Support group offers help for the holidays

Published 9:00 am Monday, November 6, 2017

For those who have lost a loved one, the holidays can be a troubling time of reliving heartache and loneliness, but a support group at Calvary Christian Church is working to help people survive the season.

Titled “Surviving the Holidays: Help and hope as you navigate the Christmas season,” the program is geared toward people learning to do things a little differently when the holidays roll around.

According to Debbie Watson, a volunteer at Calvary Christian Church, the support group seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13. She said the program begins with a video, and is followed up with discussion among participants.

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“A lot of people talk about their loss and give ideas for what others can do,” Watson said.

She said often, the key is to help a person who has lost a loved one to change up their holiday traditions slightly, whether it be moving the Christmas tree to a different area or changing the way they decorate the house.

“It’s more like a support group,” Watson said.

The overall goal, she added, is to let people who have lost a loved one know they are not alone, and there are people in the community they can reach out to for help if they need it.

The program also serves as an introduction to Calvary Christian’s grief share class, which will begin in January. Watson said those who attend the program on the holidays but think they may need more support can learn more about grief share while there.