The holiday season is often described as joyful — yet many in our community enter December holding grief, exhaustion, loneliness, or memories that make this time of year tender. Emmanuel Episcopal Church is offering a space for anyone who needs something gentler.

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On Wednesday, December 10th at 7:00 PM, Emmanuel will host a Blue Christmas Service, a quiet and contemplative gathering designed for those experiencing loss, heartache, or emotional heaviness during the holiday season.

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The service will feature candlelight, music, stillness, and prayers of comfort. Participants are invited—never expected—to honor what hurts, what’s unresolved, or what feels too heavy to carry alone.

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“We know that not everyone arrives at Christmas with celebration in their heart,” said the Rev. Brett Johnson, rector of Emmanuel. “Blue Christmas gives us permission to show up exactly as we are — tired, grieving, overwhelmed, or unsure — and to remember that God meets us tenderly in the valley just as surely as on the mountaintop.”

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Whether someone is grieving a loved one, navigating uncertainty, feeling disconnected, or simply finding the season emotionally complicated, this service offers a refuge from holiday pressure and noise.

All are welcome — whether part of a faith community or simply seeking connection, stillness, or comfort.