December 16, 2018
6:30 PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16: Hosanna! and St. Paul’s invites the Warwick/Lititz community to “Blue Christmas” Observances
In response to both the spate of tragedies that have overtaken the Warwick School District in recent weeks, and the ongoing challenges and sorrows of ordinary life, Hosanna! A Fellowship of Christians and St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church have planned “Blue Christmas” services to provide consolation, comfort, and encouragement to the greater Warwick/Lititz community. The services will be held Sunday, December 16, with St. Paul’s at 4:00 p.m., and Hosanna!’s at 6:30 p.m.
A Blue Christmas acknowledges that, despite the emphasis on “Christmas cheer”, many people experience profound sadness (“blue feelings”) during the holiday season. Memories of past experiences and the pain of present griefs can become overwhelming. For some, Christmas Day is the most difficult. For others, Christmas Eve, or New Year’s Eve, or the beginning of a lonely New Year is most challenging. The Blue Christmas service is a grace-filled, gentle response to that. Worship Pastor Shawn Erb noted that, “In this service participants will be invited to reflect on pain, loneliness, grief, or anxiety, and offer it to God for healing and transformation, to find hope and comfort in knowing that they are not alone. The theme of the service is that God knows our pain and loves us unconditionally through it, even redeeming it for growth and goodness.”
Join us and the community this Sunday evening for healing and peace.