Hi everyone,
As you’ll know, for the last two years we have held a Blue Christmas service during the Advent season. This service is an opportunity for us to serve those in our church and in our community who are struggling during the holiday season.
There are many reasons why someone might struggle during the Christmas season; whether it is from grief, financial struggles, a lack of daylight, or simply struggling to cope with a world that feels chaotic, violent and meaningless.
To that end, I would invite you to help us serve those who are hurting. There are two ways that you can do this.
Serving at the service
Childcare
A very important aspect of this service is a desire to remove barriers from attending. Some might not want to attend because they feel the need to arrange childcare. We provide childcare for this event so that parents can attend and be ministered to. If you have a current PVG with the church, would you consider serving by looking after the children who would be in attendance?
Hospitality
One of the ways that the world recognises us as different from them is by how we are to exercise hospitality. That means that we strive not to give the bare minimum our culture expects as a welcome, but instead to show the love of Jesus to those who would enter our church building. To help us accomplish this, would you consider serving as a greeter or with catering (baked goods, teas, coffees, mince pies, etc.)?
Bringing someone to the service
Perhaps you know someone who is going through a hard time and have been looking for a way to introduce them to Jesus. The best way you can help serve them in their grief is not by inviting them to the service to attend on their own, but by bringing them with you so that you can sit with them. By doing this, you are able to demonstrate Christ’s love for those who are hurting, just as Jesus did during his life and ministry (John 11:35).
Publicise the service
You can also make use of your social media feeds to tell people about this service. Share the picture below, or take some flyers to hand out to your neighbours.
