Grief and Loss - Recognizing, Listening, Responding and Expressing with Care

by Dr. Barbara Varenhorst and Lyle Griner

A Peer Ministry Topical Session - 19 pages to help lead your ministry group in discussion and skill planning.

Whether your youth are trained in Peer Ministry or not, this is a session that most teams of youth and leadership groups will have to deal with sometime during the year. When there is tragic loss, such as the death of a young person, your group will want to respond with listening, caring, supporting and guiding to resource people when needed.

• Be able to listen and talk openly about grief and loss
• Respond in helpful and appropriate ways with someone who has experienced loss.
• Recognize and affirm the natural experiences of multiple emotions.
• Express words of hope and reassurance.
• Included in the session is a guide for a candle lighting worship service developed from several Peer Ministry groups’ experiences of responding to tragedy in their own community.