The Chemainus United Church is offering a longest night worship service for the community on Tuesday, Dec. 21 to help people deal with the impacts of heading into our second pandemic Christmas.
“With new variants emerging, the climate crisis right on our doorstep, and numerous other local, personal and global reasons to despair, I sense a great burden of heaviness in many people I encounter,” noted Chemainus United Church Rev. Elise Feltrin. “Isolation and loneliness are rampant in our own community as loss of all kinds is experienced. So many people are grieving, exhausted and overwhelmed, wondering how to muster any kind of seasonal cheer, let alone any feelings of hope for the future.”
The Chemainus United Church will address the collective malaise, as the longest journey into the darkness of the winter solstice is taken.
“Sometimes called a Quiet Christmas or Blue Christmas service, this will be a meditative time of quiet seasonal music, personal reflection and the soft glow of candlelight for those who aren’t feeling quite merry this Christmas,” Feltrin indicated.
The low participation required service, as she’s calling it, will begin at 7 p.m. and everyone is welcome. Masks are required.
“But otherwise, we invite people to come as they are, to just be present, without expectation or obligation, as together, we hope for and await the coming light,” explained Feltrin.