Grief doesn’t always diminish with the passage of time; sometimes it can have an astonishing shelf life. So says the Rev. Dr. Peter Hintzoglou and the Rev. Susan Wallace Hermann, who will jointly lead a six-week grief support series at La Cañada Presbyterian Church beginning Sunday, Jan. 14.

The sessions, offered at no charge, will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on successive Sundays in the church library, which is just to the left of the sanctuary.

“Even when we think we’ve managed the emotions well and we’re doing well, there are times in our life when unexpected triggers bring the grief back to us full-force,” Hintzoglou said. “Often we are taken by surprise, because the journey of grief is very unpredictable.”

Participants are urged to attend all six sessions, but it is permissible to drop in on any session or sessions. Everyone is welcome.

“Grief has nothing to do with our faith, it has to do with our humanity,” Hintzoglou said, “so whether people have a religious tradition or none at all, they will be welcome.”

Hintzoglou, parish associate at LCPC, has extensive experience guiding people through the difficult times of grief. He has been the bereavement coordinator at Heartland Hospice for several years and counsels LCPC families dealing with the end stages of life.

Hermann has been a hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator, guiding families through the end of life and grief process for the last 12 years. She has assisted Hintzoglou in the grief support series for the last four to five years.

Topics covered in the series will include understanding the journey of grief, coping with loneliness and dealing with the depression that often follows loss.

La Cañada Presbyterian Church is located at 626 Foothill Blvd. For more information, call (818) 790-6708.