Teardrops

Jill’s story

Jill who was part of St Hilda’s Church in Kirkleatham Parish, Redcar completed Stepping Up in April 2022 and was commissioned as a Community Minister in May 2022. Jill’s vision was to offer a welcoming place for those who grieve in any way, whether that is people who are bereaved, grieving for someone on end of life care or those missing someone admitted into care. All are welcome!

Teardrops began in June 2022 with a team from St Hilda’s, including Jill (second from right in the picture above). Teardrops offered a chance to chat, ears to listen, a cuppa and cake and an opportunity to pray or be prayed for if anyone wished. Across various tables prayer cards, booklets discussing grieving and candles to light to help those who wished to sit quietly for a time. The hope was that people with similar circumstances could find common ground in conversation and support.

Sadly, Jill came to end of her earthly life in July 2024, however her vision for Teardrops lives on.

Margaret’s story

My journey to Teardrop's has been a blessing and a privilege for me.

I began attending the Teardrops group, Jill Richmond had started. The grief I had when my husband passed away was overwhelming, then after several months to my shock Jill asked me to join the Teardrops team. I did pray for help with this decision but really God had already decided this was my journey.

I can still recall the day I first attended, walking through the door to a room of strangers, my brain hardly functioning through my own grief. Now I recall this to every new person who attends and how “BRAVE” they are to come through those doors. Bearing in mind they need someone to allow them to talk about their own grief and being able to talk within this group in full confidence. Tears are welcome, so are the fears and terrible loneliness grieving brings. Every person is unique and valued. Each person deals so differently with grief and is allowed permission, I hope to feel in a safe environment to talk about this. It is so important as there is never a wrong way for them, but to cope with their own journey freely trying to not to have guilt too.

Since that day Jill has passed away. But what a massive legacy, she has left behind. What an honour and blessing to be asked to continue the group. God was sending me so many signs and signals to do this. I doubted myself so much and prayed for many hours for guidance of what to do. God already had this planned for me. I sort of inherited this group. My prayers were answered. the Teardrop's team work as one unit; the wonderful support I have from them is certainly driven though God. What a blessing they are. The support from Revd. Jane my Vicar is always invaluable. Our numbers are growing; our visitors care for each other, sharing emotions together through the long grieving process. We hold them in our prayers.

Last Christmas we held our very first ‘Quiet Christmas service’ a beautiful quiet reflective service the week before Christmas. We hope this will become an annual service

A yearly memorial service is held early November at St Cuthberts for those recently bereaved in our community plus our group. Names of our loved ones are read out plus an invite to light a candle of remembrance for them. It is very emotionally driven but a gentle caring service by Revd. Jane.

Plenty of encouraging guidance and information leaflets if they want to take them home. Now I also give metal bookmarkers and keyrings with the Serenity prayer engraved on them to take home. Prayer cards too plus many more printed cards are available.

We constantly pray we can continue my Teardrops journey and for guidance to care for those people who are at maybe the most traumatic and vulnerable time in their lives. That they trust the Team is a privilege. What a journey, blessing, honour it is to go on this journey to continue with the team for the Teardrops vision of care continues.

To find out more about Teardrops and Kirkleatham Parish, click here.
To watch a short film about Jill and Teardrops, click here