Churches Take Time to Observe Grief with ‘Blue Christmas’ Services
By Movieguide® Contributor
As we prepare to celebrate the joys of Christmas, many churches are also taking time to acknowledge the grief some feel during the holidays.
Santa Monica’s St. Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church held its Blue Christmas service earlier this month, giving time and space to those who are struggling with loss, sickness and other hardships.
“There is a growing attentiveness to the needs of people who are blue at Christmas,” the United Methodist Church’s website reads. “Increasing numbers of churches are creating sacred space for people living through dark times. Such services are reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope.”
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Lay leader Kaufman Giordano told NPR, “Those times where the heartbreak has come, the struggle with things like staying sober, a heartbreak over a child who’s making different choices. And so to be able to be that good accompaniment, that’s something that really gives me a lot of hope.”
“It takes a lot of spiritual courage, emotional courage to basically say, you know what, I’m feeling terrible,” she continued. “I just want a friend to walk me home. I want a friend to listen to me.”
The Rev. Katie Cadigan added, “Christ knows the world is a mess. It’s not all come into fullness, wholeness, and justice yet. And God is with us in that.”
Rocky Hill United Methodist Church in Connecticut also held a Blue Christmas service.
Attendee Betsy Bostwick shared, “It’s like a retreat. A place where you can feel grief.”
She also encouraged others who might be feeling overwhelmed with grief to attend similar services at their own churches.
“Be with people. Be with the community of people who understand or may understand what you’re going through,” Bostwick said. “I’m not alone. I’m with people.”
READ MORE: HOW YOU CAN EMBRACE GRACE THIS CHRISTMAS
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