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Some churches hold a service of worship on the longest night of the year, which falls on or about December 21st, the Winter Solstice. There is an interesting convergence for this day as it is also the traditional feast day for Saint Thomas the Apostle. This linkage invites making some connections between Thomas's struggle to believe the tale of ...
Dec 14, 2021 · A Blue Christmas Service is offered especially for those hurting during the holidays. It’s often offered December 21, the longest night of the year. Some come because they are mourning the death of a loved one. Some are far from home. Some suffer from illness, addiction, or estrangement. Some are lonely, struggling financially, or in conflict with another.
- Be Sure to Use Advent Hymns.
- Don’T Forget to Light The Advent Wreath.
- If You Must Preach, Don’T Preach Very Long.
- Holy Communion Is Good.
- Candlelighting Isn’T Just For Catholics.
- Prayer Is Essential.
Those gathered for this service will bring a variety of issues causing pain. The last thing you want to do is add to that pain by singing “Joy to the World” or “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” As good as those hymns are, they are also a reminder of the part of the season your worshippers are coming to get a break from. Advent hymns are often played i...
The whole season of Advent is a time to grapple with human suffering. Unfortunately, too many of us have allowed it to become a pre-Christmas celebration. This service offers you the opportunity to reclaim the richness of the theology of the Advent season. So be sure to light the Advent Wreath and use liturgy appropriate for the act.
Hearing a “word from the Lord” is always an act of pastoral care. But be sensitive to the power found in actively worshipping together. Singing and liturgy promote communal worship. Preaching for too long leaves worshippers in their seats when the ritualized acts of worship are themselves symbols of pastoral care.
If the sacraments are an essential means of grace, then what better time than this service to provide a channel of God’s grace. Use The Great Thanksgiving from Advent or All Saints Day found in The Book of Worship. However I would caution you that this is an element of worship if you are planning a more low key service. If you’re looking for a serv...
A very meaningful part of this service is to have a time where worshippers are invited to share in a liturgy (call and response or a congregational litany) and then light candles as a sign-act of the light of Christ coming into the darkness of mourning. This is a very meaningful act of worship for families, couples, or even individuals to participa...
I know this may be obvious, but emphasize prayer in this service. You can do this in a variety of ways and you should use different ways of praying. Consider corporate prayers, times of silent reflection, and responsive prayers. You can find a sample order of worship for a Longest Night service by Nancy Townley hereon Ministry Matters. I can tell y...
People also ask
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Blue Christmas: A Service of Reflection for the Longest Night. [This service was used at The Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Honolulu, HI. The service is available by arrangement with the cathedral's Provost, The Very Rev. Timothy W. Sexton. Churches wishing to use this service in whole or in part should acknowledge the source with this or a ...
Nov 21, 2011 · Longest Night. Longest Night is a worship service that may be planned at any time during Advent, for many churches it is celebrated on December 21st the longest day of the year. It acknowledges that, for many people, Christmas is a time of loneliness, sorrow, alienation, sadness. This service offers a way for people to claim those feelings and ...
An important part of “Blue Christmas” or “The Longest Night” service is an opportunity to grieve and to remember those who are no longer present in this season of family and relationship. Sometimes this remembrance is done by lighting candles, writing notes, or simply sharing names – speaking those names aloud as if the loved ones ...
Blue Christmas (holiday) Blue Christmas (also called the Longest Night) in the Western Christian tradition, is a day in the Advent season marking the longest night of the year. [1] [2] On this day, some churches in Western Christian denominations hold a church service that honours people that have lost loved ones and are experiencing grief.
