A new program is starting up soon in Jefferson with a focus on helping people get through rough times in their lives.

Wendy Pittman is a pastor with the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson and says a ten-week grief support program will be on Wednesdays from 11:30am-1pm on “Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart.” Pittman tells Raccoon Valley Radio she contacted several area ministries about doing a grief support group and this program came highly recommended.

Pittman points out that one of the facilitators, Carla Kem is the Bereavement Coordinator with the Hospice of the Midwest and she is very familiar with this program and regularly works with bereaved families of patients that Hospice of the Midwest serves. Pittman believes that since everyone goes through grief at some point in their lives and she thought that with the help of Kem that this program would be a meaningful way for people to go through those issues in a small group setting.

The other facilitator will be another pastor from the First Presbyterian Church, with Bill Kem, and Pittman adds that this multi-week process is non-denominational. The cost to participate is $30 that is due at the first session on March 5th which includes a book and a journal. Spots are limited to 15 people. Contact the church at 515-386-2514 to register.