The combined Trinity United Church and Christ Church Anglican choir sing ‘All is Well.’
Christmas can be difficult for people grieving the loss of a loved one.
The annual Christmas Remembrance Service on Thursday at Christ Church Anglican was intended to provide support and comfort.
The service was hosted by Christ Church, Trinity United Church and Eden’s Funeral Home.
“We know that each person grieves differently, although there is a general pattern,” said Dr. Sebastian David, who led the service of remembrance.
That pattern consists of the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
“Within that pattern we find one very common feature,” Dr. David said. “Birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas can be especially difficult times.”
Rev. MiYeon Kim of Trinity United Church gave the opening prayer, which was followed by the hymn It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
Music was provided by Marj Hart and Carole Cressman.
Dr. David said it is important during this season to pause to remember the names, faces and voices of loved ones, along with the memories that bind them to us.
Rev. Kim lit candles during the Liturgy of Remembrance to signify that God’s love surrounds those who have died; to reveal the pain of loss and pass it to the hands of God; to give thanks for support shown during the time of loss; and to remember our faith.
“Let us remember that with the dark of every night comes the dawn of a new day,” Dr. David said.
Laura Martin offered a scripture reading from Psalm 139: 1-12.
Rev. Kim said people often find Christmas difficult for a variety of reasons, including the loss of a loved one.
“Whatever it is, we know that life is sometimes hard,” Rev. Kim said. “And we know that at Christmas time it can feel doubly hard.”
Once the happiest time of year for people, Christmas can become a reminder of what they have lost, and that things aren’t the way they used to be.
That comes as no surprise, Rev. Kim said, since Christmas is rooted in traditions from the past.
“Here is the secret about Christmas,” Rev. Kim said. “The true meaning of Christmas is not in the past. It is the present. It’s right here, right now.”
“The true meaning of Christmas that God made to us . . . the promise to always be with us.”
God promised to always be with us, to remove our burdens and allow us to let go of our anger and our pain.
The birth of Christ allowed people to open their hearts to hope, to love, to life.
People attending the service were offered the chance to write the names of loved ones they were remembering, and Dr. David and Brad Sawka read the list.
The church bell rang out for each of the people who had died whose name was listed on the program or submitted by the people attending the service.
The service concluded with the reading of a Celtic prayer and the singing of Silent Night.
