WASHINGTON — This is not the most wonderful time of the year if you’re suffering from sadness and loss — the reason several churches have teamed up to host a special “Blue Christmas.”
Great Falls Area Ministries, a collective of regional churches, is hosting a nontraditional service 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Katie’s Coffee House at 760 Walker Road in Great Falls, Virginia.
“This time of year we see a lot of commercials depicting happy families driving expensive new cars going off to fabulous holiday parties, and that’s just not the reality for a lot of people,” said Tracey Kelly, associate rector of the St. Francis Episcopal Church, one of the organizers.
Blue Christmas or Longest Night service is modern, western Christian tradition held around the winter solstice. The event is intended for those who are stressed, lonely or grieving.
The service is not just for churchgoers but for everyone seeking solace. “That’s why it’s in a coffeehouse,” Kelly said. “It’s neutral territory.”
For this second year of the event, the service will include music, ministers, prayer, hymns, scripture, reflection and a candle lighting. There will not be a sermon, Kelly said.
“This is an opportunity for people to come up and light candles, to name either out loud or to themselves whatever it is that is on their hearts,” Kelly said.
Kelly said that for many people hearing “happy holidays” or “merry Christmas” brings up a lot of complicated stress and anxiety.
“Grief can go back decades, and this time of year brings back memories of people we’ve lost, difficult family connections,” Kelly said.
She said that this service validates people’s real feelings, which may not connect with the traditional happy message.
Great Falls Area Ministries includes Andrew Chapel United Methodist, Christ the King Lutheran, Dranesville Church of the Brethren, Great Falls United Methodist, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic, St. Francis Episcopal, Salem Baptist and Smith Chapel United Methodist.
WTOP’s Jamie Forzato and Abigail Constantino contributed to this report.
