“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
“For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
I had never heard of a Blue Christmas service yet alone attend one until I was introduced to it and got to experience it first hand through Koinonia’s Women Support group. Several of us took part that year and I cherish those memories as I think of those like Mrs. Thelma and Stephen Abbott (there may be others) who took part and whom have now gone on to be with the Lord. Yesterday we lit a candle for them.
Blue Christmas, a Service of Hope for the Holidays, took place this year at Pastor Jackie’s Church, Ascension Lutheran Church. It is one of the most Beautiful churches I’ve ever seen; I couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful stain glassed windows and the beautiful high beams above my head. The service was lead by Pastor Jackie, Deaconess D’Etta, Ms. D’Asia, Mr. Raekwon, and a few of the middle and high school Koinonia scholars. The service was a true blessing and the presence of God brought such an indescribable peace.
How much pain we see daily, the pews should have been filled with persons ready to lament and release BUT God allowed those who could gather to come together to do just that. I was heavy burden and by attending this Service and taking a moment to just rest in Him; he brought peace to my weary soul.
I shared a page from the bulletin and I encourage you to read it aloud.
We continued with the prayers of the people and it reminded me of my days being at NST Reformed Episcopal Church as we read from the Book of Common Prayer. Anissa the Lay Reader would drive anyone to tears how she read the liturgy and various prayers of the people with so much conviction in her voice.
I’m aware not everyone has been able to attend a Service such as this and many walk around with the weight of the world on their shoulders daily.
As we lit our candles and walked back to our seats while singing Silent Night I felt a shift in the atmosphere. By way of breathing exercises, silent meditation, and reflection God allowed us to release things we have been holding on to that no longer served us purpose. Feelings of loss, grief, fear, and more was transformed into hope, joy, and love.
To the person whose loss hasn’t been transformed into hope yet, we pause and pray for you.
To the person whose grief hasn’t manifested into joy, we pause and pray for you.
And to the person whose fear has blinded God’s love, we pause and pray for you.
The service was perfect just as is so no need for me to put my personal reflections on today’s message but I dedicate this to one who didn’t make it inside but sat outside and allowed God to love on them right where they sat. Your tears didn’t go unnoticed. You were prayed for. We lit a candle for you. May you go in peace and may you continue to find rest in the Lord.
So as we arrived late, we arrived. The church itself was sooooooo beautiful. As we took a seat and watched people grab candles and light them, I got lost in deep thought about the previous blue Christmas with Olivia there. She was such in awe about it as she held her candle for Deanna. As we all have many candles to hold, I had too many to hold. As you say the grief has turned into joy, I sit back and think about how that glorious day will be. All of God’s children entering into His gates! Man We will be made perfect according to His Word instantly. I’m thinking no more hearing this beeping noise letting me know whether if my blood sugar is high or low or no more tingling in my feet. And No more limping. No more feeling that I am not worthy. I have to remind myself that I am
Made perfect in His image. I know because His Word tells me so. Getting back to seeing Allllllll of those who have gone before me….and running and jumping into their arms. Now let me tell you something….I love alllllll my family and of course Imma give God all the praise….because oh yes He is worthy to be praised. But there is one that I am itching to run and jump into his arms. The one that I miss so so so so much. The one that encouraged me to do better even when he was doing wrong 😑. The one that would tell me Snookie he not telling the truth…but yes when he wasn’t even telling the truth😑. I always wondered how in the world could you be telling me that someone else isn’t telling me the truth but you ain’t even telling the truth yourself. You lying to the one that you supposed to live third???! Well let me stop right there. Cause we all not perfect. We all have flaws. And We all need Jesus. But Yes. Him. I am itching to run and jump into his arms and be like Nettie you left when I needed ya the most at least I thought and laugh cause God knows best. Hugs and kisses man cause I wasn’t expect you to go. I expected you to get up and walk out that hospital bed and tell them doctors, Jehovah Reigns!!!! Forever and Ever!!!! We was gonna prove a point that day! January 17th We was gonna prove that No matter what the doctor says, The Real Doctor says NOT YET! The Real Doctor’s name is JEHOVAH RAPHHA, The GREAT I AM. The doctor says GET UP and WALK! HE KNOWS YOUR NAME OH Halleujah! GLORY GLORY GLORY GLORY. So that day, when God says, Son, it’s time, Go Get his Children, Let me be one of the ones that’s one jumping up and down screaming, Glory Halleujah! Yes!!!!!!!! And I meet King Jesus in the Sky and we go to Heaven and have the GREATEST FAMILY REUNION the WORLD HAS NEVER EVER EVER EVER SEEN FELT HEARD or HAD. So back to what you were saying that GRIEF HAS TURNED to JOY!