Donna's Story | Barrington

We also had not attended in person at The Orchard but felt it was our new congregation and where I wanted to have Ken’s service. I reached out to the staff and was greeted warmly by Marilyn, Pastor Trey, and Pastor Tom. They told me not to worry and of course The Orchard would perform Ken’s funeral. Marilyn helped me coordinate the details, Pastor Tom gave encouragement and Pastor Trey created a beautiful service to honor my husband, a man he had never met. I was really blown away by their kindness. I felt that I had so much love and support. I couldn’t have felt more blessed by God from the support of my Orchard family. After Ken's death I was able to start attending in person and be surrounded by my two best friends, now also attending the Orchard.

Ken’s death increased my faith. I also feel it helped me fix my eyes toward my heavenly home, because I was so focused on what Ken and I would do in retirement and the serving we would do for the Lord. With that dream now gone, it has really helped me to focus on what God has planned for me in the time I have remaining on this earth. Shortly after Ken’s death I checked the church’s website and saw that there was a grief support group starting soon, called GriefShare. I started attending the class and it has really shown me how to hang on to God for comfort and peace. Scriptures that I have read for many years now have new meaning, words of comfort, lament, love and peace. As the funeral service was held after the start of GriefShare, I was amazed that one of the leaders came to the funeral to be of support. It meant a lot to me that the church reached out to me in my time of need. There is love and care here in this church, I was showered with it from the moment I set foot in the door, and I am so happy to be calling The Orchard my new church home.