Blue Christmas Service seeks to offer comfort, hope to the grieving
Since this time last year, many of us have suffered the loss of loved ones, friends, mentors, co-workers, parishioners, former teachers, neighbors, or simply acquaintances who have gone in and out of our lives.
This time of the year is not a time of joy and celebration, laughter and gatherings, for those who have “a grieving heart” because of the loss during the past year of someone for whom they cared. Others, who may be lonely or alone, can be deeply affected by the joy around them when they are coping with struggles and have no desire to “celebrate.”
“Grief,” Joan Chittister writes, “is a process of many stages and no guaranteed cutoff points. When something happens that, in our minds, should not have happened – a child dies, a group betrays us, a loved one leaves – there is no charting the time it will take to recover.”
Keeping this in mind, three Oshkosh churches, at 5:30 p.m. this Friday, will co-host an ecumenical Blue Christmas Service. The service, which will be in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, 110 Church Ave., is co-hosted by Trinity Episcopal Church and First Congregational Church.
“The service,” they noted, “offers comfort to all who are grieving and struggling to find joy and hope during the season. A Blue Christmas Service is a tradition that happens around the longest night of the year; and through song, prayers, and readings, we acknowledge pain and emptiness alongside hope. It’s a reflection which gently speaks of light in darkness.”
Chittister, in her book “Aspects of the Heart,” goes on to say, “The little losses of life prepare us to survive the great ones. We find out, little by little … that it is possible after a loss – no matter how initially bottomless the pit – to laugh again, to love again, to begin again.”
Here are some upcoming church and religious events in the Oshkosh area:
Calvary Lutheran Church of Oshkosh welcomes the public to a free concert featuring the Oshkosh West Madrigal Singers at 1 p.m. today “to get the holiday season off to a festive start.” Calvary will accept donations of canned and boxed food that will be taken to a local food pantry to help keep the pantry stocked during the holiday season. Calvary Lutheran is at 2580 W. Ninth Ave.
All are welcome to a piano Christmas concert at 6 p.m. today at Plymouth Church, 1325 Georgia St., Oshkosh. Lily Topolski will be the featured artist. There will be a freewill offering.
The next presentation in the free Advent Organ Series will be at noon this Wednesday at First Congregational Church, 137 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh. It will feature FCC organist Joanne Peterson, and soloist James Kucksdorf.
Live music from the TNT Band will entertain participants this Wednesday during the Senior Young-at-Heart monthly potluck meal of St. Jude Parish in Oshkosh. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. in Leannah Hall at the Sacred Heart site, 519 Knapp St. Attendees are welcome to wear their favorite Christmas attire and bring their favorite Christmas dish to pass.
A City-Wide Reconciliation Service, sponsored by the Catholic parishes of Oshkosh, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the St. Peter site of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, 435 High Ave.
Come one, come all to a free Community Breakfast to be held on Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. in Magnolia Hall at First Presbyterian Church, 110 Church Ave., Oshkosh. Reconnect with old friends and make new friends at this breakfast, one of several offered during the year by First Presbyterian.
The annual Cookie Walk at First Congregational Church in Oshkosh will take place Dec. 17. This event is a major source of fundraising for the Youth Service project. Also. on Dec. 17 during worship, will be the children’s Christmas Pageant play, “The Meaning of Snowflakes,” by Anna Muhm. The children will be dressed as unique snowflakes.
A Christmas Cookie Exchange will take place on Dec. 17 starting at 10:30 a.m. in Magnolia Hall at First Presbyterian Church, 110 Church Ave., Oshkosh.
Celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 17 at the St. Peter site of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, 435 High Ave., Oshkosh. The celebration starts at 11 a.m., the Spanish-language Mass is at 12:30 p.m., and the Fiesta begins after Mass in the dining hall in the lower level of the church. All are welcome to participate in the feast day experience. There also will be a Mass, with a procession, to celebrate this feast day on Tuesday of this week at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Mary worship site, 605 Merritt Ave. It will be followed by a reception at 7:30 p.m.
The Reverse Advent Calendar project of the Women’s Fellowship of First Congregational Church in Oshkosh will support the Day By Day Warming Shelter, Damascus Road, the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Monetary donations will be evenly split between the charities.
The holiday Giving Tree at First Congregational Church in Oshkosh is for donations of items to benefit the Oshkosh Area Humane Society. The tree outside the sanctuary is decorated with handmade cutout ornaments containing pictures of pets and other animals on one side; the reverse side lists something the shelter currently needs. The project is sponsored by FCC’s Animal Ministries Group. A list of needed items, and items that the shelter cannot accept, can be found on the shelter website, oahs.org.
Thought for the Day: If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.
Judy Russell of Oshkosh writes about happenings at area centers of worship. To submit news for her consideration, email [email protected] with the subject “Church news.” Deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.
Read Judy's column last week: First Sunday of Advent brings special music, services to Oshkosh churches
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Oshkosh churches offer Blue Christmas service for grieving