A monthly grief supporting group will continue meeting at Trinity Episcopal Church in Clanton on various Sundays at 1:30 p.m.

The one-hour meetings are co-led by the Rev. Bill King, rector of the church, and Annella Smith of First United Methodist Church for monthly sessions in August and September, which began last Sunday.

Last week’s session focused on a topic called “The Beginning of the Grief Process: Death and Shock.” The group leaders typically begin with a summary of the topic and lead into a group discussion among participants.

It is an open support group for anyone experiencing grief following the death of a spouse, family member, friend, patient or any other emotional death or separation in people’s lives. There is no registration fee or charge for any of the sessions.

“Grief and grieving is a process,” King said. “To rush through the process or to avoid or deny it can bring us to a point of entering into a pattern of chronic symptoms of exaggerated or unexpressed grief.

“These Grief Group sessions are opportunities for any of us to listen to others and listen to ourselves talk about our grieving and to be able to talk with others through a healthy and safe process.”