Hope for the Holidays
If you have experienced a loss of a loved one and are dreading the upcoming holidays, Community Greif Support Services (CGS) would like to invite you to attend a free Hope for the Holidays event this month. The event is designed to help you learn practical ways to find hope for and cope with life’s celebrations – not just from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, but for all those special days throughout the year that touch our hearts. Three sessions will be held in different areas of the community:
Saturday, November 5, Riverchase United Methodist Hoover, 9 a.m.-Noon. This event will feature speaker, Sherry Williams White of New Leaf Resources. White has been a leading professional for aftercare Services since 1984 and founded New Leaf Resources which offers bereavement services to help funeral homes, corporations, churches, and support services. She is also a writer and contributing author of a wide variety of grief literature. Her work with the firefighters, parents, spouses and children of fallen firefighters of 9/11 has added to her expertise in the area of traumatic death.
Saturday, November 12, Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, 9 a.m. – Noon & Saturday, November 19, Bethel Baptist Church Pratt City, 4-7 p.m. These two events will feature speaker Steve Sweatt, LPC/LMFT who will share inspirational ideas and practical coping tips to help prepare you for the holidays without your loved one. Sweatt has led “Hope for the Holidays” programs for many organizations. As CGS Clinical Director, he works with support groups, individuals, couples and families struggling with a wide variety of issues following the death of a loved one. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has served as Adjunct Professor of Counseling at Samford University.
All three Hope for the Holiday events will include a special time for remembering your loved ones. You are invited to bring a small photo of your loved one to place on a remembrance table as candles are lit in loving memory. A light meal will be served. To register, call 870-8667. Visit www.communitygriefsupport.org to learn more about free services like this. †
