Helping A Friend

Often the only thing worse than going through a difficult time is watching someone you know and love go through a difficult time. Have you ever felt that agonizing sense of helplessness when someone close to you is hurting, struggling, and you just don’t know what to do or say? You want to help but you just don’t know how. You’re afraid to do or say the wrong thing, afraid you’ll make things worse, and yet doing nothing at all just feels so…lame. Have you been there?

Help is on the way! Pastor Claire Cassell is offering a series of classes entitled “Helping a Friend.” These classes will equip you to help a friend or family member who is struggling through a difficult life experience.  They can also help you to deal with issues in your own life so that you can be better equipped to help others. In these classes, Pastor Claire will teach you about caregiving vs. caretaking, the grief process, listening skills, forgiveness, healthy boundaries and helpful resources. You are welcome to attend as many classes as you are interested in or able to take.

Classes include:

• Helping a Friend through the Loss of a
  Loved One – Wednesday, March 7
• Helping a Friend through Physical or Mental Illness – Wednesday, March 14
• Helping a Friend through Chemical
  Dependency – Wednesday, March 21
• Helping a Friend through Relationship Issues or Divorce – Wednesday, March 28

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel more confident and competent to help a friend through these difficult experiences? What a gift it is to know you’re making a difference in someone’s life!

Class will be held from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in the Christian Life Center, Room 200. For more information, or to register, click here.

I want to urge you to consider being a part of this series. One of the core directions of our ministry is “Inward through Community.” We are a body of believers committed to loving one another well in community, sharing both our joys and sorrows. In healthy community we trust one another enough to be authentic and transparent about our personal challenges. The better equipped we are to walk with one another through difficult times, the more likely we are to be healthy as a church and to allow God’s healing grace to flow through our lives and into the lives of others.

God is up to great things at Prince of Peace. I’m so glad to be a part of it. I’m glad you’re a part of it too!

Thanks for your partnership in ministry