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Feeling down for the holidays?

Nondenominational Blue Christmas services to be held
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will hold its annual Blue Christmas service Monday. Member Jill Carlson lights the Christ Candle during the service in 2012.

Sometimes the endless focus on happy holidays, caroling and shopping at this time of year can be too much, particularly for those who are in pain from losses.

“Holidays in our culture are often about families, and families are not always happy institutions,” said the Rev. Ginny Brown, deacon at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. “I think that particularly if you’re facing a death or a divorce, the ‘empty-chair syndrome’ becomes very real at this time of year. Everything on the commercials is ‘Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas, such a season of tidings and great joy’ – and there are a lot of people whose hearts are breaking.”

St. Mark’s is one of two different places of worship holding nondenominational Blue Christmas services this year. Its eighth annual service will take place Dec. 22.

“We have to have the perfect Christmas, and we have to be happy this time of year, when the reality is that we’re not,” said Scott Hagler, minister of music and arts at St. Mark’s. “This is an opportunity for people to come together and acknowledge their grief, despair and loneliness in a beautiful, safe space.”

Grief and loss can come in many forms, Hagler said, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, children moving away, losing a pet or a job, divorce or illness.

“This is not a traditional Christmas service,” he said. “Somber Blue Christmas services are being held at many churches around the country in recognition of what psychologists have long known: that the contrived good cheer of the holiday season can actually make some people who are dealing with heartbreak feel worse. Blue Christmas services confront feelings of grief and loss head-on.”

The chaplains at Mercy Regional Medical Center will hold their 11th annual Blue Christmas service Tuesday evening in the Mercy Chapel. A 30-minute service, it will feature readings, a time of remembrance, live music and a guest speaker offering a healing message.

abutler@durangoherald.com

If you go

The Mercy Regional Medical Center Spiritual Care Department will hold its annual Blue Christmas service at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mercy Chapel, 1010 Three Springs Blvd. For more information, call 764-2340.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 910 East Third Ave., will hold its Blue Christmas service at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Visit www.stmarksdurango.com or call 247-1129 for more information.



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