BATAVIA, IL (November 29, 2005) – For many people, Christmas is not the joyous, fun-filled and exciting occasion that is reflected in the myriad of advertisements and retail store promotions we encounter on a daily basis at this time of the year.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 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.”<\/p>\n