Dear Caldwell,
As a child of divorced parents, the holidays had their complications for me. Both of my parents did everything they could to make the holiday shuffle work for my sister and me. Inevitably, though, despite everyone’s best efforts, the season had its stresses. As an adult, I recognize how I still associate those memories with the season. Yes, I have far, far more happy memories of Christmasses past with family than sad ones. Still, there are some shades of blue that come with the season for me.
I am sure I am not alone. Like those blinkingn lights, any one of us may be “blue” at a given time during the holidays, for a variety of reasons. So many at Caldwell have lost something important in the last year or more since we have come together as a congregation – loved ones in flesh and blood or contact with loved ones (which can be just as painful), jobs or joy, health or hope. As we find in the Psalms and elsewhere in scripture, God invites our open expressions of our grief. After all, our relationship with the Lord would not be whole and authentic without those expressions.
Tomorrow night at 7 p.m. we will hold Caldwell’s first Blue Christmas service, an initmate, quiet and contemplative time together for those who may be blue (of any shade) or those who come in support of others. If you would like to, you might want to bring an object that reminds you of (or otherwise represents) your grief in this season. We will place those on a center table and those who are comfortable may want to share briefly what their item represents. A time with refreshments will follow.
Later this week, of course, we will joyfully worship on Christmas Eve at 5:30 at on Sunday at 11 a.m. More about that later. In the meantime, here is a video greeting card featuring of our kids singing in church yesterday that is sure to put a smile on your face ( …”and a little child will lead them.” ) Thanks to Charlie Brown. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRUpF7kM0y4&feature=youtu.be
Yours in every-quickening expectation,
John