Advocate BroMenn Delegate Church Association
Delegate Church Health Tips
April 2010
Delegate Executive
Committee
Chair
The Rev. Chip Hardwick
Second Presbyterian Church
Vice Chair
The Rev. Jane Roeschley
Mennonite Church of Normal
Members at Large
Dr. John Bertsche
Mennonite Church of Normal
The Rev. Elyse Nelson-Winger
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Mrs. Ruth Nicewonger
United Church of Heyworth
The Rev. Jim Turner
New Covenant Community Church
Dr. Lynn Westcott
1st United Methodist Church of Normal
e e e•f f f
Advocate BroMenn
Mission & Spiritual Care
PO Box 2850
Bloomington, IL 61702-2850
The Rev. Chereé Johnson
Director for Church Relations
309.268.3504
[email protected]
All or portions of this publication may
be copied or reused without permission,
but with acknowledgement of the source.
Shepherding the Littlest Lamb
Through the Darkest Valley
We are often hesitant to talk with
children about death because we
are not sure what they will understand. It is safer to assume that
young children do understand (at
their levels and in their ways) more
than we give them credit for.
For healthy coping in the death
of a loved one (or any crisis situation), children need to have a
realistic perception of the event,
an adequate support system of
adults to help them cope with the
crisis, and effective ways to deal
with the stress and anxiety caused
by the event. It is often difficult for
the child to find adequate support
in the home where the adults who
are caring for the child are grieving
themselves and the family system
has been turned upside down.
When children attempt to deal with
death and bereavement without
consistent structure or support, it
can result in complicated or unresolved grief.
A healthy grieving process is more
likely when appropriate members
of the community, congregation,
health care system and school system work together on behalf of the
grieving child and family. Children
also need solidarity, built on shared
human experience, shared vulnerability, and on shared strength.
They need to express their emotions and talk through feelings
of anxiety about themselves and
about their ability to cope, and
about their own reactions with
their peers. Support groups are
an excellent resource for meeting
these needs. Mission & Spiritual
Care Services at Advocate BroMenn is piloting a support group
for grieving children (ages 3 – 18)
and their families. If you would like
to receive more information, please
call (309) 268-5499.
By The Rev. Kathy Otto, 2nd Year
Chaplain Resident, Advocate BroMenn
“Even though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me …”
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
309.268.3504 [email protected]
309.268.3504 [email protected]
PO Box 2850, Bloomington, IL 61702-2850
PO Box 2850, Bloomington, IL 61702-2850
Rev. Chereé Johnson
Director for Church Relations
Rev. Chereé Johnson
Director for Church Relations
A healthy grieving process is
more likely when appropri-
For healthy coping in the
death of a loved one (or any
crisis situation), children need
to have a realistic perception
of the event, an adequate support system of adults to help
them cope with the crisis, and
effective ways to deal with the
stress and anxiety caused by
the event. It is often difficult
for the child to find adequate
support in the home where
the adults who are caring for
the child are grieving themselves and the family system
has been turned upside down.
When children attempt to deal
with death and bereavement
without consistent structure or
support, it can result in complicated or unresolved grief.
We are often hesitant to talk
with children about death
because we are not sure what
they will understand. It is
safer to assume that young
children do understand (at
their levels and in their ways)
more than we give them credit
for.
Mission & Spiritual Care
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil, for you are with me ….
By The Rev. Kathy Otto,
2nd Year Chaplain Resident,
Advocate BroMenn
ate members of the community,
congregation, health care system and school system work together on behalf of the grieving
child and family. Children also
need solidarity, built on shared
human experience, shared
vulnerability, and on shared
strength. They need to express
their emotions and talk through
feelings of anxiety about themselves and about their ability
to cope, and about their own
reactions with their peers.
Support groups are an excellent resource for meeting these
needs. Mission & Spiritual Care
Services at Advocate BroMenn
is piloting a support group for
grieving children (ages 3 – 18)
and their families. If you would
like to receive more information,
please call (309) 268-5499.
April 2010
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil, for you are with me ….
By The Rev. Kathy Otto,
2nd Year Chaplain Resident,
Advocate BroMenn
ate members of the community,
congregation, health care system and school system work together on behalf of the grieving
child and family. Children also
need solidarity, built on shared
human experience, shared
vulnerability, and on shared
strength. They need to express
their emotions and talk through
feelings of anxiety about themselves and about their ability
to cope, and about their own
reactions with their peers.
Support groups are an excellent resource for meeting these
needs. Mission & Spiritual Care
Services at Advocate BroMenn
is piloting a support group for
grieving children (ages 3 – 18)
and their families. If you would
like to receive more information,
please call (309) 268-5499.
Shepherding the Littlest Lamb
Mission & Spiritual Care
A healthy grieving process is
more likely when appropri-
For healthy coping in the
death of a loved one (or any
crisis situation), children need
to have a realistic perception
of the event, an adequate support system of adults to help
them cope with the crisis, and
effective ways to deal with the
stress and anxiety caused by
the event. It is often difficult
for the child to find adequate
support in the home where
the adults who are caring for
the child are grieving themselves and the family system
has been turned upside down.
When children attempt to deal
with death and bereavement
without consistent structure or
support, it can result in complicated or unresolved grief.
We are often hesitant to talk
with children about death
because we are not sure what
they will understand. It is
safer to assume that young
children do understand (at
their levels and in their ways)
more than we give them credit
for.
Shepherding the Littlest Lamb
April 2010