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'Blue Christmas' Service – Not All is Merry and Bright
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.
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 © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
