by PAUL RAYNER

Although a season of hope and joy, Christmas is not easy on everyone. A local annual event tries to ease the burden and help turn darkness into light.

On Thursday, December 18, the Longest Night Worship Service will be held in the Christian Education Building of St. Paul’s United Church. According to Anna Grace Diehl of the Boissevain Communities Palliative Care Committee, who co-organizes the event with the United Church, the event is intended to help those who have suffered losses on many levels.

“It is just a time of contemplation for those who have experienced losses,” Diehl explained. “This time of the year, Christmas is not always so happy. For those who have suffered losses – deaths, financial blows – it can be difficult. The night is about quiet contemplation.”

“You can have losses on many levels,” added fellow Palliative Care member Shirley Phillips. “We all experience some grief, from deaths in the family to a loss of health, loss of a job. It is not just about death. It is more about all kinds of losses people can experience.”

Diehl said the service began about a decade ago, started by then St. Paul’s minister Harvey Hurren. The Palliative Care committee, which Hurren played a large role in starting, later began helping with the service.

The name comes from the time of year. Just before Christmas, the longest night of the year occurs, and the evening, which is sometimes held on the exact date, is about that symbol. Night is a time of darkness and symbolizes a loss of hope. But even that long night ends.

“Others do these events,” Diehl stated, “some call them Blue Christmas, because Christmas can be a blue time. We chose the Longest Night. For me, the long dark night symbolizes loss and then you move into the light and hope.”

As for the service itself, Phillips said they have invited all of the churches in the community to participate in the readings, which has also happened on other occasions, and Teyana Neufeld will be playing her harp. Although a little different every year, she said, the services usually include readings and music. As well, there is symbolic candle lighting.

“For the individuals,” she explained, “it is in remembrance for someone, or symbolizes something they have lost that is near and dear to them.”

Although a service dealing with loss, Phillips said it does not completely dwell on the negative.

 “It sounds like it would be really sad, but actually it isn’t. It is really very lovely. It is about hope.”

Phillips added that she felt society as a whole was recognizing more and more that the Yuletide season could be a difficult one for many people.

“Christmas is portrayed as a time that is so joyous. People who are experiencing other feelings sometimes have difficulty fitting it all together. For people who have lost family members, for example, special times like Christmas can be difficult.”

“Sometimes Christmas can be very stressful for people who can’t afford things they feel they need to celebrate. There is some sadness at this time of year.”

The Palliative Care Committee is also having the Tree of Remembrance at the Boissevain Health Centre again this Christmas. People can put the decorative houses made by Wally Kroeker on the tree in remembrance of someone and give a donation to the committee just as they have been able for the past several Yuletide seasons.

As for the Longest Night, Diehl said they have had as many as 45 people attend in past years. Numbers are not the issue, however.

“It depends on what kind of year the community has,” Diehl said, “but it doesn’t matter about how many people come. If there are only ten people, or five people, it will be meaningful. It is something we do as a caring community, and Boissevain is a caring community.”

“You don’t have to share your story with anyone,” Phillips added. “You just come in. I think it is an opportunity for people who are finding some difficulty with the Christmas season to come and deal with it with some help. It helps sometimes to know you are not the only one with problems at Christmas. We hope to have an uplifting experience for those who attend.”

The Longest Night Service of Worship will be held on Thursday evening, December 18 starting at 7:00pm.