{"id":22749,"date":"2019-12-12T10:22:37","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T14:22:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=22749"},"modified":"2019-12-12T12:45:34","modified_gmt":"2019-12-12T16:45:34","slug":"service-to-welcome-the-longest-night-12-21-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=22749","title":{"rendered":"Service to Welcome the Longest Night (12\/21\/19)"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 21 marks the day of the <\/span><\/em>Winter Solstice<\/span><\/a><\/span>; the day when our part of the world is tilted as far away from the sun’s direct rays as it can get.\u00a0 It’s the day with the least amount of sun; it’s the night that has the most amount of darkness.\u00a0 For many of us, the loss of loved ones brings an emotional darkness into our lives.\u00a0 The upcoming celebrations of Christmas viciously contrast with our inner pain of never to be repeated memories.\u00a0 The light contrasts with the darkness; grief can feel like the longest night.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Blue<\/span><\/h3>\n

The color Blue is often used to describe these cold feelings.\u00a0 An entire musical genre expressing lost love and struggles is called “The Blues.”\u00a0 Elvis famously sung the song “Blue Christmas”…<\/p>\n

“Decorations of Red on a Blue Christmas tree, won’t be the same, dear, if you’re not here with me.”<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Loss can come in many different forms.\u00a0 It can be the loss of a loved one.\u00a0 But it can also be the loss of a job, or home, or of health.\u00a0 Life’s bumps hit us in many different ways, and sometimes we are overcome with the coldness of Blue, and we miss the welcoming “Go” of Green.<\/p>\n

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Green<\/span><\/h3>\n

And yet, God is with us!\u00a0 In the darkness it may seem that He is far, far away.\u00a0 This season of Christmas brings out memories of our loved ones.\u00a0 But Advent also reminds us of Immanuel; God is with us.\u00a0 As we light candles to remember loved ones who are no longer with us, the spots of glowing light challange us to remember that our Shepherd is with us.\u00a0 We may feel blue, but God promises to lead us to the Green pastures of His safety and love when we turn to that light.<\/p>\n

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Our “Blue Christmas” (or “Longest Night”) service is a chance to express these seemingly competing feelings of Blue and Green; of grief and hope.<\/p>\n

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Blue Christmas Service<\/span><\/h4>\n
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  • Date<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Saturday, Dec. 21 2019<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Time<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7:00 PM<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Location:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 Sanctuary<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Who<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Anyone (especially those experiencing a loss of some sort)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n

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    For Further Info…<\/span><\/h3>\n
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    For more information on “Blue Christmases” or “Longest Nights”, check out the following “Chuck Knows Church video….<\/span><\/p>\n

    (Note: The light hearted opening gives way to a serious discussion of how we can find hope in the face of darkness).<\/span><\/address>\n

     <\/p>\n