Tricky hobby group dynamics

[Sourdoughandjam]

I run a hobby group. It has about 8 regular attenders.
It was nice and chilled until recently.

One member's circumstances have changed a lot. She was made redundant and wasn't working for quite a while. She's recently been offered an amazing, high powered job. All members are thrilled for her except one, Sarah. Sarah has banged on about how hard this job will be, how the member doesn't know what will hit her with a job like that etc etc. Luckily the member with the new job is pretty chilled about it all and doesn't seem to mind much.

However, a completely different group member now wants to leave the group as she's finding the new dynamic hard with Sarah being so negative. This group member much preferred it when things were just chilled. She hasn't talked to anyone else about it which has left me in an awkward position of what to do about it, if anything.

Ideas very welcome.

Whenever “Sarah” is negative, combat it with something super positive. No one likes a Debbie downer, especially not when it sounds like it comes from a place of jealousy.

Yeah I definitely always counteract by saying that the woman will get incredible at the job and it'll all be fine. Sarah seems not to even notice that it's inappropriate.

I’d comment every single time she says something negative about it.

“Bloody hell Sarah, you’ve really got a bee in your bonnet about Amanda’s new job haven’t you”.

”Not this again Sarah, I don’t know if you realise this but you’re coming across as really salty about Amanda’s new job”.

”Sarah your negativity about Amanda’s new job is bordering on obsessive now”.

“I think we’ve all heard enough of your negativity about Amanda’s new job now thanks Sarah”.

I’d do this. She needs to be called out on it because if she isn’t she’ll move on to
someone else and it will continue. It’s not fair for one member to have to leave because of another members jealousy

Is there someone in the group who is v friendly with Sarah who could have a quiet word?
Could you? Just say that "people" have noticed that she seems unhappy about Sarahs new job; everyone understands she has concerns, but now she has to move on from it as it's making the whole group tense.