This class is now full. For all of our grief-related resources, please visit cor.org/supportgroups.

The Church of the Resurrection Grief Group is offering an online book study, Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart, by Alan D. Wolfelt.

When someone you love dies, it can be hard to understand your often complex and painful thoughts and feelings. Understanding Your Grief describes ten touchstones that are essential physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual actions for you to take to help yourself heal.

Understanding Your Grief has a companion journal, the Understanding Your Grief Journal, which helps you further explore the ten essential touchstones for finding hope and healing your grieving heart.

Each week, participants will read a portion of Understanding Your Grief and write down their thoughts and feelings in the guided journal. These readings and journal entries will then guide the discussions done in group time on Thursday evenings.

Through This Together: Grief support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

Led by volunteer Tom Phillips at 816-500-1631

Alongside Through This Together, Ally Support is a group for allies, friends, and loved ones who are supporting those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Come to share experiences and receive support for the role of caring for loved ones who grieving. This group meets with Through This Together, then splits off for separate conversation for portions of the evening.

We are currently meeting the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm via Zoom.

This support group is led by Pastor Dennis & Buelah Apple, who are bereaved parents themselves, and is open to parents who have lost children of any age.

Topics of discussion may include conversations such as:

• How Long Will I Feel This Way?
• Am I Losing My Mind?
• Differences in Grief of Mothers & Fathers

Dennis is the author of the book, Life After the Death of My Son.

For more information or if you have any questions, email Pastor Dennis Apple or call 913-232-4147.

**This group is now meeting virtually due to concerns regarding COVID-19.**

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82671815707

(If you have trouble logging on to the Zoom call, reach out to Tom at 816-500-1631.)

The Kansas City area, in particular, has seen tragic loss recently due to suicide. If you have personally experienced loss, or if you have a friend or a family member who is grieving the loss of a loved one due to suicide, we invite you to join leader Tom Phillips in a support group that will meet at 6:30 – 8 pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. You do not need to be a member of Resurrection Downtown to join this support group. Reach out to Pastor Anne.Williams@cor.org or visit throughthis.org if you have questions.

Alongside Through This Together, Ally Support is a group for allies, friends, and loved ones who are supporting those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Come to share experiences and receive support for the role of caring for loved ones who grieving. This group meets with Through This Together, then splits off for separate conversation for portions of the evening.

We believe investing in physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being is crucial to living into God’s call for your life. When we find ourselves amid challenging seasons, it can take a community to remind us that God’s plan for us includes a “future filled with hope.” Remember:

1. You are loved by, and matter to, God.
2. No pain lasts forever.
3. There is always hope.
4. Others can help – just ask.

If you are concerned about your safety or the safety of others, we encourage you to call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room. In addition, there are several other crisis resources available to you. Several are listed below.

Sermons & Videos

• Sermon: When Hope Seems Lost (2019)
• Sermon: Like a Broken Vessel (2017)
• Sermon: Christianity & Suicide (2012)
• Suicide Prevention Panel (2017)

Resources for Times of Crisis

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Crisis Text Line: 741741

Crisis Text Line is a United States nonprofit organization providing free crisis intervention via SMS message. The organization’s services are available 24 hours a day every day throughout the US by texting 741741.

Johnson County Mental Health Emergency Services: (913) 268-0156

Johnson County Mental Health Center maintains professional clinical staff on duty 24-hours-a-day to provide mental health Emergency Services to Johnson County residents.

Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Behavioral Health Assessment Center (913) 789-3218

Assessments provided by appointment.

Resurrection Resources

Our Congregational Care pastors are here to offer support for all aspects of life, including those times that feel the darkest. To get connected with pastoral care, please call (913) 544-0712. If there is an urgent need for pastoral care after office hours, please call our pager number: (913) 544-0799. The pastor on call will return your page as soon as possible.

Our Counseling Ministries also works to help connect our church family and community with mental health resources. This includes referrals to mental health professionals on our approved referral list as well as on-site counseling with graduate interns. Submit a request for a counseling referral here.

Family Discussion Guide

This guide is designed to give you and those around you the tools to make sure you’re planning, collaborating, and expending energy in a way that draws you closer together. We hope that by using this guide, families are better equipped to identify and share their emotional experiences with each other. We hope people will be more comfortable reaching out for help and more comfortable extending a hand to help others. If this sounds like something you’d appreciate, this guide is for you. Download it here.

Anxiety/Depression Support Group

The Anxiety and Depression Support Group is a safe place where God's healing can take place during your journey to a healthier life, free from anxiety and depression. During the meetings, we explore strategies for overcoming anxiety and depression through education, self-exploration, book studies, and group discussions. We support each other by sharing personal challenges in this small caring community as we strive for healthier lives. No registration required. We look forward to seeing you. Visit our webpage for details.

Books & Miscellaneous

The books below are recommended by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.

After Suicide Loss: Coping with Your Grief

Bob Baugher, Ph.D., and Jack Jordan, Ph.D., 2002.

This excellent handbook is organized chronologically to follow the days, weeks, and months after a suicide loss. It includes straightforward information about psychiatric disorders, when to seek professional help, and practical strategies for coping and healing.

Remembering Garrett: One Family’s Battle with a Child’s Depression

U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith, 2006.

A personal account by the U.S. Senator from Oregon, whose 21-year-old son took his own life, and whose speech on the Senate floor led to overwhelming bipartisan support for the passage of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which increased federal funding to prevent youth suicide.

Suicide Survivors’ Club: A Family’s Journey through the Death of Their Loved One

Rebecca Anderson (Author/Suicide Loss Survivor), Laurie Phillips (Artist/Storyteller), 2016.

This beautifully illustrated 5-book set depicts the aftermath of a husband/father’s suicide through the eyes and in the words of his wife and children (ages 19, 7, and 5).

The brief books Becky, Pattie, Aidan, and Will explore the feelings of suicide loss survivors of any age and the healing power of art. The fifth book, Parenting the Suicide Survivors’ Club, is a short memoir by mom Rebecca that reflects the challenges of holding a family together as the sole remaining parent.

Reaching Out After Suicide: What’s Helpful and What’s Not

Linda H. Kilburn, M.S.W., 2008.

A clinical hospice social worker and survivor of her daughter’s suicide, Kilburn offers practical advice for well-meaning friends and family who want to reach out and be supportive after a suicide, but aren’t sure what to do or say.

Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide

Christopher Lukas and Henry Seiden, 2007.

Co-authored by a psychologist and a survivor of multiple suicide losses, this book is written with sensitivity and understanding. The authors offer simple, constructive suggestions for healing, along with straightforward information and a message of hope.

The Anxiety/Depression Support Group is a safe place for you to encounter God's healing during your journey to a healthier life, free from anxiety and depression. During the meetings, we explore strategies for overcoming anxiety and depression through education, self-exploration, book studies and group discussions. We support each other by sharing personal challenges in this small caring community as we strive for healthier lives. No registration required.

Please email Victoria Edmondson for more information.

This support group offers resources for people affected by mood disorders. Our support groups are a great place to regain self-confidence, find emotional support and simply be among people who understand.

We are meeting online Thursdays at 7 pm in person at Resurrection Leawood and via Zoom. Email Denise.Mersmann@cor.org for more information.

We offer two ongoing support groups for those affected by cancer. Both groups meet via Zoom at this time.

CANCER SUPPORT FOR MEN

1st Thursdays | Feb. 4 - May 6 | 5:30-7 pm | online

The Men's Cancer Support Group is a monthly ministry for men in all stages of cancer treatment, offering emotional and spiritual support. This group is led by Congregational Care Minister David Contag and meets online.

Please register here.

CANCER SUPPORT FOR WOMEN

4th Thursdays | 6:30

The Women's Cancer Prayer Support Group, or Glow Girls (God Loving Optimistic Women), is a monthly ministry for women who are currently experiencing cancer treatment or learning to adjust to life after treatment. The ministry offers women of all ages prayerful comfort, encouragement, support and the compassion of new friendships. God walks with us as we journey through cancer and we feel this presence as we travel through both dark valleys and bright meadows. This group is led by Congregational Care Minister Sharon Lovell.

For more information, email Denise.Mersmann@cor.org.

It's really hard providing long-term health care for loved ones, and we want to be here to support you. We currently have two caregiver support groups - a general caregiver group (online option) and a group more specific to those caring for loved ones experiencing dementia (in person only). Please refer to the information below for how to gain access to those meetings.

For All Caregivers

2nd Tuesdays, 2-3:30 pm: Join us in person at our Leawood location in Room B158 or online through Zoom – we are offering a hybrid class, having some folks join in person and some join online. This group is led by Pastor Claire Saunders Clough and is a general caregiver support group which includes faith-based resources for support, prayer, and a brief devotional.

For information about these meetings, please email Courtney Felzke or call (913) 232-4130.

For Caregivers of Those with Dementia

2nd Tuesdays, 2-3:30 pm: Meets at the Leawood location in Room B152. This is a dementia specific caregiver support group for those care partners with a loved one in the early stages of dementia. This class is led by Amy Yeager, LMSW KU ADC, from KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center. A coordinating support group for those experiencing mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s or Dementia meets at the same time. Learn more about that support group here.

For more information about these meetings, please call Amy at (913) 945-7663.

FREE Education and Support for Families of Individuals with Mental Illness.

Do you have a family member with mental illness? Have you struggled to understand the diagnosis? Would you like to know how to take care of yourself while caring for your loved one?

The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a free 8-week course for families and friends of individuals who are dealing with conditions such as ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and other SMI (serious mental illness). The course is taught by trained family members who have lived with this experience. The course teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively.

Family-to-Family Course Topics include:

• Family responses to the trauma of mental illness.
• Schizophrenia, major depression, and mania: diagnosis and dealing with critical periods.
• Depression and Bipolar subtypes; Panic Disorder; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD);
• Borderline Personality Disorder; Co-occurring brain and addictive disorders.
• The biology of the brain: emerging scientific discoveries.
• Medication review
• Understanding the inner experience of having a mental illness.
• Communication skills workshop.
• Self-care, relative group testimony, rehabilitation, services available.
• Advocacy, fighting stigma

Email John Thompson or visit www.namijoco.org for more information.

Do you have Parkinson's Disease, MS, ALS, ataxia, or any other chronic movement disorder? Join this new support group where we encourage one another spiritually and share practical strategies for living well. The group will meet online via zoom the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month starting April 1, 6:30-7:30 pm.

Questions? Email Rhonda Johnston.

This support group provides a safe space for those struggling with eating disorders to share thoughts and feelings with others who understand. It also allows individuals to practice relational skills and develop improved coping mechanisms.

For more information, call Brooke Wesley at 913-940-0258, email Kirsten Oelklaus or call 913-725-0095, or email Marni Ellis, Community Support and Counseling Administrative Assistant.

The Eating Disorder Caregiver Support group meets via Zoom the 2nd Thursday of each month. Email Suzy Ayres for more information.

KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center is hosting a support group for individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s/Dementia to discuss diagnosis, challenges presented by memory issues, learn new tips/ways to compensate and promote wellness strategies.

If you are interested in this group, please contact Amy Yeager at (913) 945-7663 for a required pre-attendance conversation.

A coordinating support group for caregivers of loved ones experiencing early-stage Alzheimer's or Dementia meets at the same time. Learn more about that group here.

*The Church supports state and local COVID-19 guidance for vaccinated and unvaccinated people, including with respect to isolation and quarantine. Recognizing that not everyone has been – or can be – vaccinated, we ask you to consider your personal situation and self-monitor for symptoms and close contact when considering your attendance at any Church event. Masks are currently required by the University of Kansas Health System for anyone participating in programs they offer at any location. Thank you for your cooperation.

Online & In-Person, Room B253, 6:30-7:45 pm

God heals even the pain of divorce. Divorce Recovery for Women is a weekly class designed to offer a place where God’s healing can take place, no matter where you are in the process of recovery.

Email Debbe Smith for the Zoom meeting information.

Interact with other men who understand. This ongoing group is designed to be a safe, confidential setting where men can share what it’s like to go through divorce. The class will include educational presentations and group discussion. Topics covered include loss and grief, stages of divorce, coping with anger, basic rights and needs, healthy relationships, effects on children, exploring forgiveness, negotiating the holidays and moving forward with confidence as we allow God to heal us.

Email Terry Smith for Zoom meeting information.

Are you stuck in regret, bitterness, anger, sadness or fear because of your divorce? This course is based on curriculum written by Suzy Brown. It includes of proven, practical recovery strategies for women stuck in regret, bitterness, anger, sadness or fear of divorce.

Registration and workbook required. Sign up here, and purchase the workbook at The Well Bookstore in Building B before the first night of class. This class will take place in person B256 or via Zoom. Please contact Carol Swift carol.swift@cor.org with any questions.

Single Moms Group

A special ministry for single moms that provides a community to develop and grow friendships, gain knowledge on how to successfully navigate the issues single moms face, and to find peace, love, joy and faith in their journey.

We are currently in the process of beginning to meet again in person. For more information, contact Angela Paul. We look forward to meeting you!

Job Club is not meeting the Friday of Labor Day weekend.

The Job Club meets in person at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66224 in Building C, Room C041. You can also join us online. The Zoom information is posted on this LinkedIn page each week (usually by Thursday morning).

The Resurrection Job Club invites all who are looking for new employment to join us for networking, accountability, inspiration, and support. This group is led by Congregational Care Minister and local business leader Matt Dantzler.