Victoria’s Interfaith Church joins in to offer Blue Christmas services for grief

Two churches in Victoria will hold interfaith services for those grieving this holiday season.

The Center for Spiritual Living Victoria and the Victoria Truth Center have united to provide comfort and community to those who don’t feel the joy of vacation.

Blue Christmas Service will be held on December 3rd at 2pm

Linda Cain, one of the service’s organizers, said working at ICU several years ago made her realize that the holiday season is one of the toughest times of the year.

Television shows and typical holiday songs present the ideal of family gatherings and abundant food, but that’s not always realistic for many people.

“Sometimes it’s not because you lost someone you love,” Cain said. “It’s because of dysfunctional families and not being used to being with certain families. So it’s another loss in your life.”

Cain said holding the event on a Saturday early in the month was a deliberate decision. That’s because, in many cases, feelings of loneliness and sadness during the holiday season can creep in quickly before people feel left out.

“If you’re a Catholic, you can talk to a priest. If you’re a follower of a particular organized religion, there’s someone out there you can talk to,” Cain said. said, “But other people are wondering where to go?”

The main goal of the Blue Christmas service is to give people an outlet to express their true feelings, not necessarily to be happy or cheerful.

Carrie Hunter, Pastor of the Center for Spiritual Living, says the nature of grief is complicated, and people are often caught off guard by their own emotions.

“You never know what’s going to happen next or when,” Hunter said. “But one thing I do know is that Christmas is really hard for those who have lost someone, and some people just can’t get through it for a long time.

This interfaith service includes music and readings, as well as the opportunity to light candles for loved ones and then gather to share refreshments.

Cain hopes that this service will serve as an opportunity for people who are suffering from a lack of peace of mind to face their true feelings and take the next step toward healing.

“It’s okay if you’re not happy at Christmas time. It’s okay if you cry or just feel sad or lost. You’re not alone,” Kane said.

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Holiday and seasonal event services