The year-end holiday season can be a painful time for many people. It is especially difficult for those who are alone, unemployed, estranged from family and relatives, those who have lost loved ones during this time of the year, those struggling with ill health and those who feel depressed because they cannot experience the excitement of what is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year." For many, their spirits sink as the days grow shorter and they feel socially and spiritually isolated. For all these reasons, a couple of area churches are offering the time and space for people to gather together to acknowledge the sadness and pain that might be easily hidden under the merriment that Christmas seems to bring to others.

Those reasons compelled the Rev. Paulo G. França of the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ to offer a 'Longest Night' service. This is the first year the congregation is offering this very special service and attendees are slated to acknowledge their pain and struggles, light candles, say prayers for one another, share the Sacrament of Communion, and to welcome God's light into the darkness of their feelings, emotions, memories and life circumstances.

The service has also been a tradition for a handful of years in Milan. There the Rev. Steve Macleod will officiate the Blue Christmas Service at the Milan Community United Methodist Church.

Dates and times are as follows:

December 16th, 6:00 pm
Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC)
4 Post Office Square, Plymouth
e-mail: pastor@uccplymouth.org
603.536.2626, ext. 14

December 21st, 5:30 pm
Milan Community United Methodist Church
763 Milan Road (Route 16), Milan
603.449.3344


Posted 12/12/15