Living and Growing Through Loss 

Losing someone we love is one of life's most challenging passages.  Learning about this process of grief, along with sharing our experience in a caring, supportive and confidential setting, helps us to cope and leads to personal growth and healing.  The Eden Prairie churches of the Southwest Grief Coalition are working together to provide support and education for those who are grieving.

The series is conducted three times a year for six consecutive weeks.  Each session starts with a gathering time including a light supper.  Every week a speaker presents a topic to help participants understand the bereavement process.  Participants then have the opportunity to meet in small groups to share concerns and feelings following the speaker.  Small groups are facilitated by those who are trained in the grief process and group dynamics.  Many have experienced the death of a loved one.

The Caring Ministry team of Immanuel announces the fall series of the Southwest Grief Coalition.  This series will be held at Immanuel beginning Monday October 20 and continuing for 6 weeks through November 24.  The Southwest Grief Coalition is a coalition of Eden Prairie churches working together to provide support and education for those who are grieving.  This series provides an opportunity for individuals to obtain information and support for a variety of grief issues.  This includes:
 Death of a spouse/Partner
 Death of a parent
 Death of a child
 Death of a family member/friend
 Suicide Survivor
 Children’s Group (ages 5-12)

Our speakers for this series are Lee Erickson, M.A., LPC; Doris Acton, R.N., Parish Nurse; Laurie Johnson, Artist and Teacher; Vicki Franzen, M.A.; Glen Pickering, MDiv, PhD and Pastor Paul Nelson. 
The format for these meetings includes a time for Registration/Gathering with a light supper from 5:30 – 6:00pm, Educational Speaker from 6:00 – 6:30 and Adult Small Group Breakout from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. 
All who have experienced loss are invited to attend.  If you know of someone who has suffered a recent loss, you are encouraged to bring him or her.  The Bible makes it clear that our grief is relieved by the hope and promise of the resurrection, but also by the community we enjoy with others.  Please come and be healed by this community.  All are welcome.  Child care will be available.