By Dom Fimiano
The First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Long Beach is hosting its second annual Blue Christmas Service on Wednesday, December 1, starting at 6 p.m. This grace-filled service is open to everyone, offering a sense of hope in the Christmas season. It is about God meeting people wherever they are in their spiritual journey.
Reverend Jon Kaufman, the church’s pastor, recognizes that not everyone can feel happy and joyful simply because it is the Christmas holiday season; pain and grief do not take vacations during the holidays. Christmas can be an emotional time for people who are lonely, missing family members, suffering from pain, and mourning the loss of loved ones. The Blue Christmas Service recognizes that, during Christmas, people can indeed feel “blue” and need words of encouragement and hope.
The First United Methodist Church of Long Beach Blue Christmas Service is designed to a celebration that will offer everyone a lift, providing a prayer-filled peaceful experience for those who are feeling blue, offering hope and God’s grace. The service will include communion, scriptures, and prayerful songs of hope, with music provided by the WELL Band.
The Blue Christmas Service is primarily organized by the church’s Wednesday evening Prayer Ministry Team, which consists of about eight core members, with about sixteen people total involved in the planning and organization of the community service.
The service will be accessible live online at the First United Methodist Church of Long Beach Facebook page (fumclb), the Well’s Facebook page (thewelllb), and on Youtube.
“Pain is a process that God carries us through, knowing we never walk alone,” said Kaufman. “Christmas is a season of hope, offering us words of encouragement. God’s grace delivers the lift needed during the Christmas season. All are welcome to join us at First United Methodist Church of Long Beach on December 1, with doors opened at 5:30 pm.”
