Episode 60: When Church is Hard: Staying Connected to the Body of Christ Through Grief with Eric Schumacher

About this episode

Kristin and Eric Schumacher discuss the challenges of being part of a church community while grieving and the importance of connection during such times.

Church can be one of the hardest places to be when you're grieving—and yet, it can be one of the most vital. In this conversation, Kristin sits down with author and pastor Eric Schumacher to talk honestly about when church feels hard, especially after loss. Together they explore why gathering with believers can stir both comfort and pain, how shame often gets tangled up with sorrow in church settings, and what helps us keep showing up when it would be easier to stay home. Eric shares from his own experience of pastoring through grief and reminds us of the beauty of being part of Christ's body—even when (or especially when) our hearts feel heavy. They also discuss: The importance of hearing others sing, pray, and confess when we're hurting How baptism and communion point us back to our hope in Christ Practical ways churches can better care for grieving families What it means to be "saved into a family" rather than a solo faith If being in church feels especially tender right now, this episode is for you. May it remind you that Jesus has not given up on His Church, no matter how difficult things may appear. Links: Dads Hurt Too: A Father's Memoir of Miscarriage Eric Schumacher…

People in this episode

Host: Kristin

Guest: Eric Schumacher

Topics covered

• grief
• church community
• Christian faith
• support for grieving families
• connection in loss
• hope in Christ

Keywords

• grief
• church
• community
• support
• faith
• loss
• hope
• baptism
• communion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Gospel Coalition, 9Marks, Hope Mommies

Books & works: Dads Hurt Too: A Father's Memoir of Miscarriage, Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ Is Essential

More episodes of Hope Mommies Podcast - Gospel Hope for Grieving Moms

• Episode 67: Mother's Day After Loss: A conversation for the grieving mom whose baby is in heaven with Kelly Ransdell, Brooke Schuelke, and Jennie Parks · April 29, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Episode 66: When God Writes a Different Story Trusting God Through Infertility, Recurrent Loss, and Unmet Expectations with Julie Fowler · April 15, 2026 · 53 min
• Episode 65: Living in Holy Saturday: Grief, Faith, and Waiting on God After Loss with Kristin Hernandez and Jennie Parks · April 1, 2026 · 50 min
• Episode 64: How Can I Trust God Again After My Baby Died? with Kristin Hernandez and Jennie Parks · March 18, 2026 · 49 min
• Episode 63: By His Wounds, We Are Healed: Trauma, Loss, and Healing in Christ with Kelly Ransdell · March 4, 2026 · 53 min
• Episode 62: From Isolation to Intimacy: Experiencing Christ's nearness in grief, walking through a life-limiting diagnosis, and holding fast to eternal hope with Sam Fischer of Mother of Wilde · February 18, 2026 · 45 min