Rev. Julio Simoes of Christ Church Anglican lights a candle of remembrance as Rev. MiYeon Kim of Trinity United Church watches.
People unable to share the joy of the Christmas season because they are weighed down by grief had their burden eased Wednesday.
Fort Macleod residents came together at Christ Church Anglican to hear an uplifting message and to find comfort in the presence of others, if only for an evening.
“Tonight, we gather to share in that grief,” Rev. Julio Rios Simoes said.
Christ Church hosted the annual Christmas Remembrance service, which attracted about 30 people.
Rev. Simoes said events that are supposed to be joyous — such as Christmas and other holidays, birthdays and anniversaries — can remind us of someone we have lost.
People grieve in different ways, and for some the pain is always just under the surface.
“We acknowledge this season can be heavy,” Rev. Simoes said.
The Christmas Remembrance service was hosted by Christ Church, Trinity United Church and Eden’s Funeral Home.
Justys Layton and Joan Kronlund provided musical accompaniment throughout the service.
The service opened with instrumental music, followed by an opening prayer and the singing of the hymn It Is Well With My Soul.
That was followed by the Liturgy of Remembrance and a scripture reading from Psalm 22.
Rev. Simoes and Rev. MiYeon Kim from Trinity United Church took turns lighting Candles 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.
Although each person grieves differently, although there is a general pattern, that consists of the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Within that pattern is the common feature that birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas can be especially difficult times.
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.
People who attended Wednesday’s service came for many reasons, some carrying the grief of the death of a loved one, while others are troubled by family struggles, work pressures, broken relationship, unanswered questions or unexpected disappointments.
Some people came with anxiety stirred by the world around us, with its wars and conflicts, and general uncertainty.
“And some come simply because joy feels far away in this season,” Rev. Kim said. “Wherever you are and whatever you carry, you are welcome here, and more than that, God meets you here.”
Rev. Kim said while Christmas is interpreted as a peaceful, glowing season, it did not start out that way.
“It was a story born of a real human struggle,” Rev. Kim said of the tests faced by Mary and Joseph.
Rev. Kim said Christmas is not the story of a world filled with light, it is a story of light entering the darkness.
“Christ did not come into a perfect world,” Rev. Kim said. “He came into a world full of pain and uncertainty. He came into the world where people were grieving, oppressed and afraid. He came into a world much like ours tonight.”
“As we remember loved ones and acknowledge our wounds, our fear, our longing, may we listen for the whisper of God speaking to each one of us, ’Do not be afraid, I’m with you. I will bring you peace’.”
People attending the service were offered the chance to write the names of loved ones they were remembering, and those names were read aloud.
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, a hymn and closing prayers.
Participants gathered in the church hall for refreshments and fellowship.
