Longest Night Service December 21
I would like to tell you a little about the Longest Night Service, which will be on Saturday, December 21 at 6:30 pm. The Grief Ministry will host a light supper at 5:30 the same evening.
Sometimes this sort of service is called a “Blue Christmas” service. It is a gentle time of Scripture, song, and silence intended for the soothing and healing of the spirit. If you are stressed out by holiday preparations, you will find it refreshing. If you are grieving that you must go through Christmas without that special someone, you will find it comforting. If you are tired of (what I like to call) the “enforced merriment” of the season (“Be happy” whether you want to be or not), you will find it encouraging.
I always schedule it for the night of the winter solstice, when the darkness is longest. Our ancestors acknowledged the threat to the light of the sun and were glad when the daylight hours began to lengthen again the next day. The darkness of the solstice is a good metaphor for the dark night of the soul.
We will gather in the Sanctuary for this year’s observance on Saturday, December 21 at 6:30 pm. If you would like to join the Grief Ministry for a light supper beforehand, that will be at 5:30. It is our longest night, a good time to be present for one another.
Pastor Bob
Thank you for your Longest Night article. It is a service that I especially like. However, I will be going to my granddaughter’s engagement party in Kansas City. Deb Doane will organize the supper before the service. I appreciate her doing that.
If you include prayers for that evening, pray for Mandy and Zak as they celebrate their engagement with the families in Kansas City. Also be with my sister-in-law Barb and family as they celebrate their first Christmas without Mike.
Thank you, Suzie.