Three Edwardsburg area churches have joined together once again to provide the community with a much-needed service.

A workshop series entitled “Health for the Holidays: Coping with grief during the holiday season” will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 2 through Nov. 16.

The workshop is being offered to the public through the Stephen Ministry of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.

Our Lady, Hope United Methodist Church and Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church have joined together to train individuals to become Stephen Ministers.

“This is a national program that I have received training and certification in leading,” Carol Swope, Stephen Ministry coordinator said.

The workshop will help those who have lost loved ones deal with the grief and pain that is often rekindled during the holiday season.

Among the topics the workshop will cover are:

• Permission to grieve during the holidays

• Holiday Blues: strategies for coping with difficult days

• Finding peace in the stormy waters of sorrow

• Bringing our memories of loved ones with us

• Honoring our loved ones in new and memorable ways

• Building new and lasting memories

• Discovering the gift of a joy-filled life that God has for each of us.

“These workshops are offered free to the public and we encourage anyone to attend who has recently lost a loved one,” Swope said. “Our goal is to simply provide support and encouragement as we approach the holiday season.

To register for the workshop, call the Stephen Ministry office at 445-7425 or email carol.swope@gmail.com.