South Barrington REBUILD: Finding life after loss
When you're grieving the death of a loved one, a divorce, or pregnancy loss, where can you turn?
REBUILD workshops offers comfort, hope, and practical tools for healing after the death of a loved one; a finalized divorce; infertility, miscarriage, or stillbirth. REBUILD offers its core, ten-week workshop twice a year (January–March and September–November), and hosts topical events and classes on helpful grieving throughout the year.
REBUILD for Teens: Students in grades 9–12 can attend REBUILD's core workshop as part of a teens-only group led by a trained facilitator. Students hear the same large-group teaching as adult REBUILD participants, and their table leader then guides their discussion at age-targeted levels. Note: For students 17 and younger, registration must be submitted by a parent or guardian.
REBUILD | Handling the Holidays After a Loss
7:30–9 p.m., Wednesday, November 14
Navigating the holiday season after the death of a loved one can be extraordinarily challenging and painful. How do you experience the joy of the holiday season while still honoring your loss—both for yourself and for those around you?
This one-night workshop provides helpful strategies for making it from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day:
- Complete a personalized holiday planner that helps you navigate your way from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.
- Learn the art of pre-grieving.
- Honor your loved one and your loss while still finding moments to celebrate.
- Avoid potholes that can cause damage to you and those around you.
- Navigate speed bumps along the way.
This workshop can help your family create a strategy to make it through the holiday season together.
No registration required. Just show up—and bring your family or friends.
NOTE: If you registered for REBUILD's core workshop in the fall, you're automatically invited to attend Handling the Holidays workshop with your REBUILD group.
Winter 2019 REBUILD
7:30–9 p.m., Wednesdays, January 2019 (dates TBD)
TO REGISTER: Find the type of loss you've experienced below, and then click on its link.
- Teens who've experienced the death of a close friend or loved one
- Death of a spouse
- Death of a child
- Death of a parent
- Death of a sibling, other relative, or close friend
- Loss of a pregnancy (infertility, miscarriage, or stillbirth)
- Divorce
What will you experience in REBUILD's core workshop?
- Compelling, practical large-group teaching from a team of therapists, pastors, and teachers who have navigated their own seasons of loss
- Safe, confidential small-group conversations led by compassionate leaders—alongside fellow participants who have experienced a loss similar to yours
- Practical tools for helpful grieving and spiritual guidance for understanding where God fits in your story
- Groups based on the type of of loss people have experienced: Death of a parent, spouse, relative/friend, child, or infant; loss of pregnancy (infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth); A finalized divorce
Questions?
To learn more about REBUILD or to volunteer, email REBUILD Director Leigh Carlson.
Fall 2018 Child Grief Support
Kids tend to grieve differently from adults. This ten-week program, offered at Willow South Barrington in conjunction with REBUILD, helps kids (kindergarten–grade 6) who are grieving the death of a parent, sibling, close relative, or friend.
What happens at Child Grief Support? Children engage in age-targeted activities that help them express and process their loss. Games, drama, art, journaling, storytelling, and imaginative play are led by compassionate leaders who understand kids and loss.
Volunteer for Child Grief Support.
Contact: Kirsten Hitchcock 224-512-1791
Grief counseling for kids: Willow Creek’s Counselor Referral Network (CRN) includes a number of skilled, compassionate therapists who can help people process a significant loss. Ask for a therapist who specializes in child grief. Learn more.
Find a grief or divorce therapist.
To find a licensed counselor who can help you in this season, call the church at 847-765-5000 (9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday––Friday) and ask to speak with a response pastor. Willow Creek’s Counselor Referral Network (CRN) includes a number of skilled, compassionate therapists who specialize in helping people process a significant loss, such as the death of a loved one, infertility, miscarriage/stillbirth, or divorce.
