Images featuring Christmas and holiday scenes filled with family, friends, gifts and happiness are everywhere you look this time of year.
But for many, the Christmas/holiday season is a difficult time to be endured, not enjoyed.
That’s one of the reasons the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax is hosting its first Blue Christmas service, an inclusive service that recognizes the season isn’t a joyous time for everyone.
Helen McFadyen, a member of the Halifax Universalist Unitarian Church and seminarian with the church ministry, said the Blue Christmas service is thought to have originated from the service of the longest night, held on the Dec. 21 equinox.
“In many traditions it is a time to mark really dark days, when night is longest. It symbolically marks that for many the time of year before Christmas is very different (from stereotypes),” McFadyen said.
“Loss, grieving, illness, financial problems, addictions, whatever people are struggling with is more accentuated at Christmas.”
The non-denominational service is being held on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. While McFadyen will assist, the service will be overseen by Reverend Fran Dearman.
McFadyen said although they hadn’t yet established the whole liturgy, it will be simple.
“Simplicity is the key. There will probably be an opening reading and the choir is working on a couple of simple pieces which are very fitting,” she said. “They’ll probably be acknowledging the despair and why we are there.”
The entire service is expected to last about 30 to 40 minutes and will include the lighting of candles. It will end with a simple, warm meal of soup and bread.
“Even if you haven’t lost a loved one around the Christmas season, many who have lost a spouse, child or other family member will be missing that person (at Christmas),” McFadyen said. “It leaves a big gap.”
One challenge is getting those who’d benefit to come out. McFadyen said those dealing with despair sometimes can’t bring themselves to face the outside world.
“If it’s meaningful to at least one person, it’s worth it ... I see this as a public service in the same way we do community work,” she said. “Our denomination is not a creedal denomination and covers a spectrum. We have people who identify as Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, spiritual. There’s diversity.”
The Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax is located at 5500 Inglis St. near Bland Street. More information about the church or the Blue Christmas service can be found online at www.uuch.ca, by calling 429-5500 or emailing bluechristmas@bellaliant.net.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
