St. Luke’s to Host “Blue Christmas” Service Dec 21 at 5pm

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Although the Christmas season is traditionally thought of as a happy time – a fun and joyous season of celebration with friends and family, many people experience the holidays as a dark and depressing time. Christmas and the pending year-end may bring underlying fears and anxieties to the surface. Broken family ties, divorce, depression, addiction, and other personal issues can seem even heaver burdens to bear and can lead to feelings of worthlessness and despair for some.

For the past several years, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown has offered a special service for people from all walks of life who find the holiday season to be an especially difficult time. St. Luke’s “Blue Christmas” service will be held again this year on Saturday, December 21st at 5pm in the church sanctuary.

The Rev. Luke Fodor, Rector of St. Luke’s invites anyone, regardless of their church affiliation to attend.

“On this longest night of the year (the Winter Solstice), it is important to gather together on what has been called the ‘long dark night of the soul’ in which memories of past experiences and the pain of present experiences can become overwhelming. For some, Christmas Day is the most difficult. For others, it may be Christmas Eve, or New Year’s Eve, or the beginning of another lonely New Year.” Fodor says. “This special Blue Christmas service is a time when we can, with others, acknowledge the ’blue’ feelings we have at Christmas time, the reasons for them, and offer them to God.”

The Blue Christmas service is a departure in style from the regular Sunday offerings at St. Luke’s. Intended to be simple and contemplative, the evening program will consist of meditative music, candle lighting, communion, scripture, healing prayers and anointing.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is located at 410 North Main Street, Corner of Fourth and Main, Jamestown. For more information about the Blue Christmas service call the church office at 716-483-6405.