YORK — Mark Hartley, of York, will be the speaker at the Kilgore Memorial Library on Monday for a grief workshop. He is a hospice chaplain with over 30 years of experience in ministering and supporting those who are grieving through his pastoral duties.
According to material about the workshop, Hartley has served as a lead pastor in Arkansas, Maine, Hong Kong and Nebraska. He has served as a hospice chaplain since 2001 as well.
Hartley said his goal is for attendees to experience coping skills to help with the “most difficult days of a grief journey,” hope through companionship with people who “get it” and understand, the opportunity to discover new traditions and ideas to keep loved ones present in “your hearts and in your memories, permission to grieve and permission to live a happy productive life.”
Hartley will explain that grief “is so much bigger than someone just passing away. It is losing a relationship with a person, pet, your job or moving somewhere new and he will focus on different tools you can use to help cope with those different types of grief. You will obtain tools to help yourself or a loved one be encouraged in processing grief. Encouragement is important and having the right tools can be invaluable.”
He will explain that “grief is a life journey, and you never know what sight, smell or sound might retrigger that grief.” One example is when Hartley was doing a funeral service for someone he didn’t know — the slideshow and story of the person brought back memories of his grandmother that died 10 years ago, but those memories brought grief in that moment. Hartley hopes from his workshop, attendees will be able to say you have grief but also have hope to get through it.
The workshop, titled “Hope in the Midst of Despair,” will be held on Monday, Nov. 20 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Kilgore Memorial Library in York.
