If Christmas festivities all around have you feeling blue, you may want to attend the annual “Blue Christmas” service.
This time of year, I post a lot about Christmas celebrations and fun. But for some people, the season brings more sorrow than joy. That’s especially true if you’ve suffered a recent loss or are dealing with a difficult situation.
The annual community church service to offer solace will be held a week from Sunday.
For years, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has promoted a “Blue Christmas” service for community members who need emotional support during the holiday season. Last year, Pilgrim Congregational Church partnered with them to hold a joint service. This year, Pilgrim will host the joint service.* (That’s at at 15 Common Street.)
The service is scheduled for Sunday, December 11th at 6:30 – 7:15 pm. Below is a description from an event posted by Pilgrim Church on Facebook referring to it as “a service of healing and hope”. The public invitation reads:
A Blue Christmas service is for anyone who’s feeling blue at Christmas, or anyone who would like to support them. Maybe you’ve lost someone special, and this is your first Christmas without them. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by the commercial aspects of Christmas. Maybe you just need some TLC and a chance to decompress and enjoy the company of others who say it’s okay to not be okay.
*I’m told that plans are to alternate hosting and assisting each year. This year, the service will be conducted by Pilgrim’s Reverend Charley Eastman with assistance by St. Mark’s Reverend Phil Labelle.
Updated (12/9/22 9:08 am): Originally, since no public information was posted about this year’s event, I shared the following announcement by St. Mark’s Church from a past year:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel — A Blue Christmas Service
Join [us] for a community wide “Blue Christmas” service that focuses on the coming of Emmanuel into our world.Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other disease may make the Christmas holidays difficult for some people in our congregation or community.
This quiet service of prayers, readings and candles allows a chance to find solace as we enter the Twelve Days of Christmas. Open to all.
Since Pilgrim Church has now posted an event on Facebook, I moved the older invite down and inserted the newer language. I also added the end time for the 45 minute service.
