Southwest Grief Coalition
Southwest Grief Coalition
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A coalition of churches providing faith based grief support in the southwest suburbs of the Twin Cities, Minnesota.

Fall 2024 Session

The Fall 2024 session will be hosted at St. Andrew Lutheran Church at 13600 Technology Drive in Eden Prairie beginning Monday, October 14 through November 18 at 6 PM. To register, click link below. Call or text Cheryl Harjes with questions at 612-209-1488. Registration deadline: October 11, 2024.

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 churches of the Southwest Grief Coalition are working together to provide
faithful support, community, and educa­tion for those who are grieving.

Our Purpose

To provide an opportunity for individuals to obtain information, support, and a welcoming community for grief issues following the loss of a loved one.

Sessions are designed for ongoing participation from the beginning to the end. If you are interested in joining in the middle of the session, please contact the host church.

Session Overview

The Southwest Grief Coalition creates a welcoming space for people to receive faithful care and support while grieving the loss of loved ones. This includes casual connecting time with appetizers or light fare. This is followed by a 30-minute presentation by a grief counselor or person with experience in grief support who provides practical assistance to the participants. The presenter also stimulates conversation in small groups that follow the presentation.

There is no cost to participate. Church affiliation is not required.

Session Schedule

The typical session of the SW Grief Coalition follows this pattern:

6:00-6:30 PM—Light appetizers/snacks
6:30-7:00—Presentation
7:00-8:00—Small groups

A meal will be served at our final session together on November 18 at 6:00 PM.

Small Groups with Similar Loss

In addition to a large group presentation each evening, a small group facilitator will lead participants through a friendly and supportive discussion of the topic.

To better facilitate helpful discussion, participants will be grouped with people who have experienced similar losses, if possible. These groups include: loss of a spouse/partner, loss of a parent, loss of a child, loss of family member/friend, and suicide bereavement.

*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.

Winter Cancellation Policy

Should the school district of the host congregation cancel school activities due to extreme weather on the evening of a SW Grief Coalition session, our session will also be cancelled.

Dates

Fall 2024: The six sessions at St. Andrew Lutheran Church will show how God heals through pastors, our church families, helping others, sharing stories, looking at beauty, and humor.

• Session 1 - October 14: Pastor Peter Johnson, "The [Im]possible Hope of Healing"  

• Session 2 - October 21: Michelle Benyo, Grief Recovery Specialist from Good Grief Parenting, "The Truth about grief – Myths and Misinformation"

• Session 3 - October 28: The long term effects of grief - Video, Anderson Cooper and Stephen Colbert

• Session 4 - November 4: Steve Gallegher, "What I Have Learned..." 

• Session 5 - November 11: Facilitator Panel - What has grief taught me? 

• Session 6 - November 18: Carolyn Kinzel, Brighter Days Grief Center Executive Director/Founder, "Resources as You Move Forward"

What is most meaningful about the SW Grief Coalition?

Here is what former SW Grief Coalition participants have to say about what was most meaningful for them during their session:

  • “Knowing I am not alone.”

  • “Getting to know others who had experienced a similar loss and sharing thought and feelings.”

  • “Several suggestions to help cope and work through grief to practice every day.”

  • “It helped me to be able to talk to others. Prior to this class I did not like to talk to anyone about it.”

  • “I couldn't really find a support group that was going to work for me in my home area (southern MN). I googled grief support groups and found you and am SO glad I did! Thank you for what you do to help others during our time of grief.”

Partner Congregations

Eden Prairie United Methodist Church
15050 Scenic Heights Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Pastor Mary Jo Messenbrink
952-937-8781

Family of Christ Lutheran Church
2020 Coulter Boulevard
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Pastor Kimberly Buffie
kimberly@familyofchristonline.org
952-934-5659 ext. 14

Immanuel Lutheran Church
16515 Luther Way
Eden Prairie, MN 55346
MaryKay Copp, Immanuel staff
marykay@immanuel.us
952-937-8123

Pax Christi Catholic Community
12100 Pioneer Trail
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Kerry Cronkhite, Care and Support Coord.
kcronkhite@paxchristi.com
952-405-7207

Prairie Lutheran Church
11000 Blossom Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Pastor Ashley Updegraff
pastorashley@plcchurch.org
952-829-0525

St. Andrew Lutheran Church
13600 Technology Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Cheryl Harjes
tcharjes@comcast.net
612-209-1488   

St. Hubert Catholic Community
Spring 2024 Host - dates to be determined
8201 Main Street
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Denise Kozojed, Pastoral Care Minister
denise.kozojed@sthubert.org
952-374-5049

 

Resources

For more information on grief

Allina Health Grief Resources (comprehensive online grief support including crisis hotlines, support groups, excellent recommended reading lists for all ages)

 
 

Southwest
Grief Coalition Sponsors

An interdenominational association of local churches working together to offer grief support to our community.