Recognizing that not everyone is happy, jovial and content over the Christmas holiday season, several local churches from Oliver, the Desert Valley Hospice Society and Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Home have organized the Blue Christmas service in Oliver Saturday night. The event will be held at the Oliver Lutheran Centre at the corner of Okanagan Street and Veteran’s Way Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Residents from Oliver and Osoyoos traditionally attend the Blue Christmas service. (Photo supplied)
All around is seasonal red, green and white, but for some, Christmas is a “blue” time of year.
Not only does gloomy weather and long nights make life dark at this time of year. Losses, regrets, anxiety, loneliness, anger, and despair feel especially burdensome when all around appears merry and jolly.
The annual Blue Christmas service in Oliver is offered to those wishing to acknowledge the holy season in a more comforting way.
Volunteers representing local churches, the hospice society and a funeral home want the public to know such people are not alone in their Christmas blues and that there is a place amid the rush and merry-making, for a quieter gathering.
This year, Blue Christmas will be held on Sunday Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Oliver Lutheran Centre (formerly St. John’s, at the corner of Okanagan Street and Veteran’s Way).
Residents from Oliver and Osoyoos traditionally gather at the Blue Christmas event each year.
The event is held close to “the longest night,” both to symbolize the deepest darkness people can feel at this time of year, and also to offer the hope of light returning.
Ray Turner, a long-time member of the Blue Christmas Committee, said a lot of people find it difficult to be jolly at Christmas time because of what has happened in their lives. For example, they may be suffering the loss of a loved one, loss of employment or loss of health.
“It’s not a happy time for everyone … a lot of people feel left out (in Christmas celebrations).”
Turner said the Blue Christmas service provides comfort and encouragement to people, encouragement to deposit their burdens at God’s altar and take his light.
“It brings people closer together.”
Turner said the individuals who attend are invited to take part in a “Stones and Light” ritual.
They are given a stone that represents the burden they are carrying. Hopefully, through hymns, prayers, readings and meditation, that burden can be lifted. Negative feelings are acknowledged, followed by positive feelings.
If some people are feeling hatred, the hope is those feelings can be transformed into forgiveness. The same goes for jealousy, which can hopefully be transformed into generosity.
People at the service will be encouraged to deposit their burden (stone) at the altar and then light a candle representing hope and the light of Christ.
Turner said the service is a very meaningful, positive experience for people. He noted that approximately 75 people attended last year.
Father Neil Lustado, priest at Christ the King and committee member, explained that Blue Christmas offers “a moment of slowing down to find our very self, reconnecting to disconnected relationships and laying down the burdens of our mind, heart, and soul.”
The service is non-intrusive and respectful, with a quiet simplicity.
“Let us listen in the soft whispers, to experience the beauty and stillness of this spirit-filled gathering. As we welcome the Christmas season, we go beyond the ‘Christmassy’ to embrace the very reason of togetherness: the birth of Jesus Christ. Each one’s presence is a gift to one another,” said Father Lustado.
Organizer Brita Park added: “Even if we aren’t ourselves burdened by holiday pressures, we can come to Blue Christmas as companions or advocates of people who are. “Many choose to invite and accompany someone who is in need of support. It is a comforting way to honour and include someone feeling helpless at a stressful time.”
Blue Christmas is not only designed to acknowledge the emotion, but also as a sign that, rather than the night being “black,” there is the promise of light on the horizon.
The service is presented by local churches, Desert Valley Hospice Society and Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
