Sadness and grief permeate the holiday season for those who have lost a loved one, are struggling with a personal health or financial crisis or a discouraging family situation.
It is with these individuals in mind that Batavia Covenant Church has created a special “Blue Christmas” service, which will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, December 18, at the church located at 1314 West Main Street in Batavia.
The service is designed to acknowledge a sense of grief or loss that comes during the Christmas season, says transition pastor Mick Murphy. “It provides a safe place for people to say that the culture-driven quest for a Merry Christmas does not reflect what they are going through,” he notes. “The loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the continuing pressures of life – all can bring a sense of darkness at this time of the year. This service welcomes our darkness, because it provides a place to remember that the light of Christ has been sent to overcome it.”
The service is not an “I hate Christmas” observance, Murphy stresses. “It is a service that reflects the words of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” Murphy says, quoting the lyrics that say, “And ye beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low; who toil along the winding way with painful steps and slow; look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing; O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.”
Those interested in learning more about the purposes of this special service and some of the features it will incorporate may contact Murphy by telephone at 630-879-3721.
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.
