Two Victoria churches will host a non-denominational, inter-faith service for people who are grieving this holiday season.
The Centre for Spiritual Living Victoria and the Victoria Truth Centre have banded together to provide people who are not feeling the holiday joy with comfort and community.
The Blue Christmas service will be held Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.
Linda Cain, one of the organizers of the service, said that working in the ICU years ago showed her that the holiday season was among one of the toughest times in the year.
With television shows and typical holiday songs presenting the ideal of family gatherings and food being plentiful, Cain said that is not always the reality for many people.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes it is not due to the loss of a loved one,B次元官网网址� Cain said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just due to dysfunctional families or sometimes youB次元官网网址檙e not comfortable with being with certain family members. So thatB次元官网网址檚 another loss in your life.B次元官网网址�
Cain said hosting the event early in the month and on a Saturday was an intentional decision because many times feelings of loneliness and sadness around the holiday season can sneak up quickly, before people feel too alienated.
B次元官网网址淚f you are Catholic you can go talk to a priest, if you are of a certain organized religion, there is sort of somebody there that you can talk to,B次元官网网址� Cain said. B次元官网网址淏ut for other people, theyB次元官网网址檙e thinking, you know, where do I go?B次元官网网址�
Giving people an outlet where they arenB次元官网网址檛 required to be happy or cheerful, but can express their true feelings is the main goal of the Blue Christmas Service.
Reverend Carrie Hunter from the Centre for Spiritual Living said the nature of grief is complicated and people often feel blindsided by their feelings.
B次元官网网址淵ou never know whatB次元官网网址檚 going to come up next or when,B次元官网网址� Hunter said. B次元官网网址淏ut one of the things I do know is that Christmas is really tough for people who have lost people and for some people, they donB次元官网网址檛 get over it for a long time.B次元官网网址�
The service, which will be inter-faith, will feature music and readings, as well as an opportunity to light a candle for a loved one and gather to share refreshments afterward.
Cain hopes this service will be a chance for people who are struggling to feel safe to confront their real feelings to take that next step toward healing.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 OK to not be happy at Christmastime, and itB次元官网网址檚 OK to cry and to just feel sad or lost, and youB次元官网网址檙e not alone,B次元官网网址� Cain said.
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