Support Groups
Williamsville United Methodist Church is the meeting place for several support groups and meetings. All are welcome to join these groups at any time - just check our Church Calendar for the meeting time and place.
Parents' Bereavement Support Groups
Grieving the death of a child is a long, painful, and often unending journey. Grief work is the process that involves learning to live with the emptiness created by this loss. There is no timetable and every parent is different in how they respond to grief.
It has been found that bereavement support groups can be very beneficial by leading to nurturing and healing friendships for many bereaved parents. If you are aware of anyone who has lost a child, please let them know about the bereavement groups listed below that meet in WUMC’s library.
For more information, feel free to call Lesley Jordans, Bereavement Coordinator, Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo at 878-7773.
Discovering New Life After a Child's Death
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month
Surviving When Your Only Child Dies
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Meets the last Wednesday of each month
Learning to Live When Your Child Dies
This group provides support for parents who have lost a child 12 years or younger due to illness or disabilities.
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month
Women’s Gynecological Cancer Support Group Support Group
Laughter? I walk into the room where the Gynecological Cancer Support Group meets. Inside I find a small, obviously close-knit group of women. Nervously, I pass my hand over my bald head and find a seat. Immediately, I am greeted with smiles, hugs, and nods of encouragement. I wondered what I had been so afraid of, why I had waited until my chemotherapy was complete to come to my first meeting. During those first two hours I shared my story, learned more about the disease, and eagerly listened to the wisdom of those brave women who started walking this path before me. I remember looking around the room at these beautiful women, these strong survivors, and for the first time since my diagnosis, I did not feel alone.
The Gynecological Cancer Support Group meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the WUMC library. For two precious hours, women who have been affected by cancer come together to share their fears, ask about treatment side effects, and discuss the latest developments toward a cure. Most importantly, however, these women find the love and strength in themselves and in each other to celebrate and greet life with joyous laughter.
Perhaps cancer has touched your life, or the life of someone you love. Maybe you have just been diagnosed or have had a recurrence and feel lost and scared. Perhaps you are a cancer survivor and would like to lend support to others. If so, come join us – we look forward to meeting you.
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship of men and women for whom drugs have become a major problem. Recovering addicts meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There are no dues or fees, no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. We are only interested in what you want to do about your problem and how we can help. Those who keep coming to meetings regularly stay clean. The Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom group meets in the WUMC Fellowship Hall every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. We do recover! The 24-hour a day Narcotics Anonymous Helpline is 878-2316.