You Are Not Alone in Your Grief
Posted on Oct 20, 2026 by Shari Van Baale
This weekend and in the coming weeks, we will honor loved ones who have gone before us, celebrating All Saints Sunday at all three services. As in past years, we will light candles commemorating all the saints we have known in our lives who have gone on to heaven on a beautiful, hand-carved wooden cross. We light candles and say prayers in their memory each year on the first Sunday in November.
Grief is year-round, not just at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is important to recognize this. It can hit you at times you least expect it to, and the loss of a loved one never really goes away.
This Saturday (yes, Halloween), Pastor Jordan is presiding over a Gathering of Hope and Healing service in the Atonement Chapel at 3:00 p.m. You are invited for a gentle time of remembrance, honoring the loved ones we've lost this past year. In this sacred space, we come together as a community bound by faith, hope, and love — holding one another close in heart and prayer. Whatever you're carrying, you don't have to carry it alone. We hope this time of reflection brings comfort, peace, and a sense of belonging as you continue on your journey. CLICK HERE to sign up.
That will be followed up with a weekly Grief Support Group, Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place at Atonement, starting Nov. 3. Grief Support Group is a welcoming support group for people grieving the death of a family member or friend. This group will provide a safe and supportive space to share when you are ready, listen when you need to, connect with others who understand, and discover helpful tools for navigating life after loss. Whether your loss is recent or happened years ago, you are invited to join us. CLICK HERE to sign up.
You can also let us know when you need prayer by filling out a prayer request. The easiest way to do it is to click on the link in the orange icon at the bottom of our website, or CLICK HERE. We will share your prayer request either with just Pastor J or with a small group of people who receive our Prayer Request emails, depending on what you want. If you would like to be added to the list of those who receive the emails, please let me know.
It is important to remember that grief does not have a timeline and everyone grieves differently. Hopefully if you lean on your church family in your time of sadness, you will see you are not alone.
Shari Van Baale
Salem Communications Coordinator