Blue Christmas
As the holiday season unfolds around us, with twinkling lights, joyous carols, and bustling festivities, many of us carry a quieter reality. For some, the holidays can feel like a long and dark season—a time when grief, loneliness, or struggles weigh heavier against the backdrop of celebration. For those who find the holiday season difficult, Blue Christmas services are a tender and reflective gathering where we bring pain, struggles, and hopes, finding solace in the promise of Christ. A Blue Christmas service acknowledges that not all hearts are merry and bright this time of year. It is a service of lament and healing that offers comfort and peace to those burdened by life’s many challenges.
The season of Advent is all about the expectation of coming joy, but for many, this waiting feels inauthentic. Perhaps they are grieving the loss of a loved one, facing the reality of a difficult diagnosis, or experiencing economic struggles. Maybe they are overwhelmed by the weight of the world’s injustices or isolated from loved ones. Blue Christmas provides a time to bring these realities to the altar, to name the weight we carry, and to lay them before God.
For me, sitting in a quiet sanctuary, surrounded by others who are also carrying burdens, I feel relief. The holiday season can be especially taxing emotionally, financially, and, at times, physically. This is the power of Blue Christmas; it is church for the weary, a place where the light of Christ shines warmly, even in the darkest night.
The Rev. Nina Bacas, Rector of St. Bartholomew’s in Poway, said, “Not everyone can find joy at Christmas time. It’s difficult terrain for those who have suffered from loss, mental health crises, addiction, or other hardships. In response, the church invites all to come to the Blue Christmas Eucharist, where there is no need to mask feelings for the sake of social norms. Blue Christmas is a safe, peaceful space to experience Christ’s healing, acceptance, and love as we remember our losses and release our burdens to God.”
The readings, prayers, and hymns of a Blue Christmas reorient us toward the heart of the Christmas message. As we light candles in the darkness, we remember that Jesus came into a world much like ours—filled with suffering, division, and longing—and brought light, peace, and love. This service reminds us that God is not distant from our struggles but walks with us in them, offering healing and renewal.
For our neighbors, our parishioners, and even ourselves, Blue Christmas is a gift. It reminds us that even on the longest night, the light of Christ is never extinguished. It assures us that our pain is seen, our struggles matter, and our hope is secure in the Christ who came to live among us.
You can attend a Blue Christmas service in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego here:
St. Peter’s, Del Mar – Monday, December 16, 2024 – 7:00 – 8:00 PM
1 Parish Lane, Del Mar, CA 92014
Good Samaritan, UTC – December 16, 2024 – 7:00 PM PM
4321 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA US 92121
St. John’s, Fallbrook – December 17, 2024 – 4:00 PM
434 Iowa St, Fallbrook, CA 92028
St. Dunstan’s, San Diego – December 18, 2024 – 4:30 PM
6556 Park Ridge Blvd, San Diego, CA 92120
St Bartholomew’s, Poway – December 19, 2024 – 12:00 PM
16275 Pomerado Road, Poway, California 92064
All Souls’, Point Loma – December 22 – 3:00 PM
1475 Catalina Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107
St. David’s, San Diego – December 22, 2024 – 4:00 PM
5050 Milton St, San Diego, CA 92110
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Hi Chris,
I hope you are enjoying the holidays, and hope you are in good health and good spirits. I’m wondering if there is a bulletin available for the Blue Christmas Service. I would like to see how it differs from a regular Christmas Service and what is the message from the Pulpit. I ask because many of my LBGTQIA+ friends are in despair over what will happen to them over the next four years. My response to them is to pray for the people that will be “in-charge” of the government, that they will make the right, and loving, decisions for all of us, with no exceptions.
Your Forever Friend,
Larry
Wow – whata wonderful idea!
What About Saint Hugh of Lincoln in Idyllwild? They present a Service of Solace on the first Friday of December.
On the first Friday of December of every year Saint Hugh of Lincoln Church in Idyllwild celebrates a
SERVICE OF SOLACE. It is well attended by the Community. I think you should mention this Service, also. The Service of for those people who have experienced loss during the year.