For those struggling with depression, loss, loneliness or other emotional pain during the holiday season, the twinkly lights, shiny packages and boisterous celebrations may bring little comfort.

That’s the impetus behind a different kind of church service planned by the First United Methodist Church in Kingfisher at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21.

“It’s called ‘Blue Christmas’ or ‘Longest Night’ service because it acknowledges pain and sadness and it is typically held on Winter Solstice when we have the longest period of darkness,” Rev. Dr. Jennifer Long, church pastor, said.

“The Blue Christmas service is for anyone struggling during this time of year, whether from loss of loved ones, broken relationships, seasonal mood disorder, depression, loss of dreams, health concerns or worries about others.”

While this is the first Blue Christmas service Long has organized since assuming the pastorate at the Kingfisher church two years ago, she said she’s held similar services at previous postings.

“We held one virtually in the 2020 Christmas season at Oologah just as the pandemic was surging again,” she said. “We had lost many church members that year and we felt that it was important to acknowledge that we were all struggling but the hope that Christ offers is still there to shine light into the darkness.”

The service is intended to encourage people who are suffering to “name the pain,” rather than masking it in false holiday cheer, Long said.

But once pain is acknowledged, the service also includes lighting candles to bring light to the darkness as a reminder of the light Christ brought into the world, Long said.

“We sometimes forget that when situations are most bleak, it only takes a small flame to light up the darkness,” she said. “Candles are lit to bring light to the darkness and to offer a place to be held in the arms of God.”

Advent candles will be lit as part of the ceremony, but participants also will be invited to light individual candles in acknowledgement of their personal pain or loss.

Holding the service on the evening of Winter Solstice is another reminder that darkness doesn’t last forever. The year’s longest night is always followed by gradually increasing periods of daylight as the subsequent days continue to lengthen.

The service, expected to last under one hour, also includes scriptures of comfort and prayers that encourage hope, Long said.

“Invite those you know who might need this service and then come and be by their side, or come to it for your own needs and we will be by your side,” she said.

“May you know you are not alone in this holy season.”