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By EMILY SPARACINO | Special to the Reporter

NORTH SHELBY – Asbury United Methodist Church has started a 10-week spousal-loss support group class.

Healing Hearts held its first meeting on Wednesday, March 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the church.

The group meets in the spring and fall and provides community, encouragement and grief education to attendees.

“The hardest part is just showing up,” said Asbury member Sunny Gilliam, who facilitates the class. “But I always tell people: Just go, see it, try it, stay. In the long run it will make a difference in your life. It’s been a blessing in mine.”

Gilliam is a volunteer facilitator trained in bereavement by Birmingham-based nonprofit Community Grief Support, which facilitates Healing Hearts.

The class uses educational materials prepared by experts in the field of grief and loss.

Gilliam’s role is to provide hope and encouragement and “companion” participants who are just beginning their grief journeys.

The class is open to anyone, and there is no charge to attend.

“Attending Grief Support was the best decision I could have made,” said Patty Pollard, a previous attendee. “The material provided a clear understanding of the grieving process and what to expect from both a mental and physical health perspective; others in the group were all experiencing the same loss; and the people I met in the support group are now the closest friends I will ever have in my life.”

Asbury United Methodist Church is located at 6690 Cahaba Valley Road.

For more information, visit Asburybham.org/care.