KAMLOOPS — For many, the holidays are a time of joy and celebration, but for some Christmas is a difficult time of year.
In the midst of the Christmas blues churches are offering a time of quiet meditation and hope.
Those who are hurting or feeling sad this holiday season are invited to take part in special services of healing.
The first is set to take place at the Kamloops United Church Wednesday Dec. 6 at 7p.m.
Lead Minister, Rev. Bruce Comrie says the service is open to people from all walks of life.
“It’s really meant for everybody,” Comrie said. “It’s non-denominational, non-traditional, and we get a real mix of people who come to it. We’re particularly wondering this year with the opioid crisis and with the forest fire situation this past summer. You know, people went through a lot of loss and continued to go through loss with that. And so this service provides an opportunity for people to come together, support each other, and have a sense of just being held in a quiet place.”
Attendees will be invited to light a candle in memory of a loved one, or some loss that they have gone through.
There will be three Blue Christmas services in all, with each service bringing light to a potentially dark and lonely time.
“There will be some differences among the services,” Comrie said. “They’re organized independently I guess in that sense of the word, but they will cover some of the same ideas, there will be the same kind of mood, and feeling to it. People can come and enjoy it and be with one another and support each other.”
The second service is scheduled to take place at the Brock Senior Centre on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m., and the third will be held at Hills of Peace Lutheran Church on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
