Our bereavement support volunteer makes initial contact with anyone in our church family who is bereaved to offer prayer and support on behalf of the church. For those bereaved, grief can be a very lonely journey.  A safe place where you are understood and supported is really important – but that can mean different things to different people.  Others have found these places helpful:

Haven – an informal group meeting weekly in the Narthex on a Friday afternoon from 2pm offering support, fun and friendship for all, including those who have been bereaved.

Prayer ministry – focused prayer, centered on healing, available at the end of most of our Sunday services.  We have a healing service at 7pm on the 5th Sunday of the month. The prayer ministry team are available to listen and pray at other times during the week.

Bereavement counselling – available locally through Just ‘B’ (a service offered by St Michael’s Hospice), CRUSE and Wellspring.  We are very happy to help you make contact with these organisations if you feel that counselling may help you through your bereavement.

Open Church – St Mark’s is open Monday to Friday from 10am to noon. Just pop in for a coffee, a chat, some time to reflect.

The Silver Line – if you are in need of help or a listening ear then The Silver Line is a free, confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance – Every autumn (late October/early November) we hold a Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance for all those who have lost loved ones during the year.  This is a quiet and reflective service, followed by afternoon tea, hosted by members of our pastoral team.  The time and date of the service will be advertised in the church magazine, Inform, and in the weekly email in the weeks leading up to the service.  If you, or anyone you know, might want to attend the service please let us know and we can send a personal invitation.

Bereavement support is led by Mary Hutchinson