We followed the idea of Blue Christmas from Mary Hawes’ article and liturgy on this website a few years ago, but this year was the first time we were able to do it. It was hugely powerful as a space for quiet and grief-sharing. Not just for those who were bereaved, but for people carrying any kind of burden which they wanted to acknowledge before the Christmas festivities really got going.
In addition to lighting a candle as Mary had suggested, at the end of the service people hung a star on our Christmas tree with a prayer or the name of a person on their heart on it. This provided a powerful ‘leavesake’ to give to God as we left.
Team Rector in the Diocese of Oxford
