Volume 30, Issue 11
Check us out on the web at www.pinestreet.org
November 1, 2010
Pine Street Life
Tidings of Comfort and Joy?
Inside This Issue Session Notes . . . . . . . . . . 2 Capital Campaign . . . . . 3 DDB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Church Family. . . . . . . . . 6 November Calendar. . . . . 7 November Scripture. . . . . 8
November Dates at a Glance 11/6 ��������������� Family Retreat
(August issue of PSL p.5)
11/7 ������ Bagels & Belief (p.2) 11/10 ������������GriefShare (p.1) 11/13 ������������Men’s Breakfast
honoring our veterans (p.2)
11/21 ����� GivingTree Signups
(p.4)
11/21 ������ Pine StreetWalkers
Boyd Big Tree (p.6)
Facing the holidays after bereavement by The Rev. Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr., Pastor
When you’re grieving the death of a family member or friend, you may dread the holiday season. Thoughts of social gatherings, family traditions and obligations leave you anxious and overwhelmed.Your sadness can seem unbearable. You may wish you could skip these next two months and go straight to the routine of the next year—but you can’t. What can you do to lessen your stress and loneliness?
Holidays trigger tough emotions You can start by learning what emotions are normal and to be expected when facing the holidays without your loved one. When you know what to expect, you won’t be rendered helpless as holiday events trigger unexpected emotions. Make a point to spend time talking with people who have experienced a past loss and have already been through a holiday season without their loved one. They can help you have an idea of typical emotions and emotional triggers to expect. These people can also provide much-needed comfort and support.
11/28 ��������� Advent Breakfast
Creating a holiday plan will help
11/30 Hanging of the Greens
Another important step in surviving the holidays is to create a healthy plan for the coming season. A healthy plan involves
PSL deadline
Articles, photos and items of interest for the December issue of Pine Street Life are due by November 15, 2010. Please e-mail to Sue Black at BL3COL@aol.com
making decisions in advance about traditions, meals, time spent with others, holiday decorating, gift-giving and commitments. You will likely not have the energy or the interest in doing as much as you have in past years. Decide ahead of time which invitations you’ll accept, and let the host or family member know that you might leave early. Decide which traditions will be too difficult without your deceased loved one, which traditions you’d like to maintain, and what new traditions you can start this year.
Communicating with family and friends What’s also helpful in facing the holidays is to communicate your specific concerns and needs with your family and friends. People in grief are often tempted to put on a mask and (See Grief on page 2)
Advent Music at Pine Street by Tom Clark-Jones
We open Advent on November 28 with anthems by the American, Joseph Clokey and a re-visit to the beautiful opening of Handel’s “Messiah” with the glorious solos, “Comfort Ye” and “Every Valley” sung by Jonathan Hudson, our tenor soloist. Then on December 5, the Chamber Singers provide the sermon in song, with a beautiful work entitled The Mystery of Bethlehem by the distinguished Canadian composer, Healey Willan. Although not often performed because of greater interest in some of his larger choral works, this gem sets a beautiful mood for the season. Jonathan Hays and Courtney Gray join the group as soloists for this work. Look for more details about the season’s musical offerings, including the traditional Nine Lessons and Carols service and dinner on December 12, in the next issue of Pine Street Life.