As your church plans for the year ahead, some in your congregation are quietly dreading the months to come. While a new year brings hope for many, grief can make January feel heavy. Their pain didn’t end on December 31. But your church’s steady care can make a real difference.

Grief doesn’t take a break in January

Grief can feel isolating, and for many, that silence intensifies after the holidays. While others make plans and celebrate fresh starts, grieving people often carry lingering sorrow, anxiety about facing the year alone, or guilt for not feeling “ready” to move forward.

In this season, church leaders can bring comfort and hope—not with quick fixes or clichés, but with consistent care, listening ears, and steady presence.

What grieving people wish the church understood

Many grieving people quietly struggle with the sense that others don't understand what they're going through. Well-meaning friends may offer Scripture, advice, or hopeful words—but in deep grief, this can sometimes feel dismissive. 

What many need most is compassion without pressure, and presence without platitudes.

They long for someone to acknowledge their pain without trying to fix it. They need others to show up—not only in the days after the funeral, but in the weeks and months that follow. Often, the most meaningful support isn’t in the perfect words, but in offering practical, ongoing care as they learn to live with loss. 

How your church can help right now

GriefShare makes a meaningful difference. Hosting a GriefShare group creates a dedicated space where grieving people can process their pain, encounter God’s comfort, and connect with others who understand. It’s a biblically based program that helps churches care for hurting people right where they are.

A GriefShare group allows your church to:

• Extend Christ-centered care beyond the holidays and throughout the year.
• Equip lay leaders to walk alongside grieving people with wisdom and compassion.
• Create a place for connection and hope for those who feel alone.
• Show your community that the church is a safe place to bring their pain.

As one participant shared, “The sessions were good to get me on track and to help me process my grief. I was getting better, and I was healing. GriefShare did make a difference.”

Launch a GriefShare group in your church

Whether you’re a pastor, ministry director, or lay leader, you can prepare now to serve grieving people in your congregation and community. The need is real, and your church can be part of the healing.

Learn how to host a GriefShare group.

When you launch a group, you're doing more than starting a program. You’re opening the door to support and reminding grieving people that they matter, and that they’re not alone.