The Season of Christmas is a joyous time. But it is not always easy to participate in that joy in ways we might want to, which can make this a difficult season for many. For those wrestling with grief and loss, with anxiety and uncertainty, and for those whose experience of the holidays brings up challenging memories, it can feel overwhelming to have to try to embody the joy of the season.

The Blue Christmas Service on December 21 at 6 p.m. is designed to be a space of quiet, rest, and contemplation, where we can bring the entirety of our being – the good, the unpleasant, the broken, the hopeful — and hold ourselves in the goodness of God’s love. It is a Christmas service that helps us focus on the hope of our Christian faith. Designed with contemplative musical choices, like Taizé singing, and with lots of room for silence and reflection, this is a service that is intentionally different from the rest of our Christmas celebrations.

This year’s Blue Christmas service falls on the longest night of the year, Dec. 21st. It’s a reminder that though the darkness is strong now, the light is growing ever so slowly. Throughout the entirety of God’s story with creation, we have seen how the love of God has brought hope and comfort even in the darkest days. Our faith in God tells us that it is not unreasonable to hold on to hope. Join us just as you are, as we give thanks for the light that is coming in.