The holidays can be really rough for people. It might be their first Christmas without someone they love. They may feel unable to provide for their families. They might be struggling with depression. Heck, most of our lives are already stressful enough without the added responsibilities of the holidays. This year, we will be having a Longest Night service at 7pm on Saturday the 21st, which is the winter solstice–the longest night of the year. Some churches offer Longest Night services as a lower-key alternative to the boisterous traditional Christmas/Eve services, recognizing that the holidays can be a painful time. We will read psalms and scripture, light candles, and pray together. There will be no obligation to “keep it together.” There will be no expectation that we should sing about joy without acknowledging that it may not be a joyful time for us. There IS hurt and doubt and brokenness in the world—that’s why we needed God to be born into our world and live among us. Together, we will remember that the light will always overcome the darkness, no matter how long the night may seem. There is a miracle in the Christmas season, but sometimes we need to be able to wait for that miracle in stillness, without pressure or pageantry. The light IS coming. As Leonard Cohen wrote, “there is a crack in everything—that’s how the light gets in.”
shalom and agape,
Rev Leia Rose Battaglia