St. John's offers help to those grieving

St. John's United Methodist Church has several ways to make the holiday season a little brighter for those who have lost loved ones recently.

The church's Griefshare support group meets at 4 p.m. Wednesdays at the church and is open to the public. The group is led by Nancy Reed, the church's director of adult and senior adult ministries.

"Surviving the Holidays" is a seminar that will be held at St. John's for those in need of help dealing with the emotional impact of the season. The seminar will be offered as a two-hour evening presentation from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday or in two one-hour presentations from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 and Wednesday, Dec. 9. The seminar is free, but advance registration is required.

The church also plans to take a little quiet time for reflection at the height of the Christmas season with its special candlelight Winter Solstice service that will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, in the church chapel. The service is open to the public.

"I'm a recent widow, my husband Don died in April, and we as a family - my grown children and I - will be attending this quiet service in the midst of our celebrating Christmas. It will be a wonderful pause to remember our loss and our first Christmas without him," said St. John's member Midge Rothrock. "It's the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice, and it's just a great reflective time with candles and soft music. It's like what we did this past Sunday at our All Saints service, where they showed pictures of everyone who's passed away during the year. That was very powerful, as well."

For more information about the Winter Solstice service or Griefshare or to register for the seminar, call St. John's United Methodist Church at 648-6891.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.