MILL HALL - Although Christmas is normally considered a time of joy for Christians, it can also be a time of "feeling blue" for those of every faith who are dealing with loneliness, illness, a divorce, financial problems or loss of a loved one,
With this in mind, two area churches are offering special Blue Christmas services.
St. Luke's United Church of Christ, 1175 W. Fourth St., behind Lock Haven Hospital, is offering such a service at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
The worship is designed to recognize sadness and grief over the death of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship or other loss this Christmas season, Rev. Patty Dodds, St. Luke's minister, said.
The service also will give those attending the opportunity to recognize the blessings they do have and to receive a sense of peace.
Mill Hall United Methodist Church offers a Blue Christmas Service as well, intended to help everyone deal with sadness and other concerns. All are welcome to the service, planned for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21. It will include Communion, offered at an "open table" for everyone.
"We wish to invite anyone, from any denomination, who would like to be part of this service to come and join us," Rev. Valerie M. Delooze, the church pastor, said. "Here you can shed a tear and not feel out of place or that you are infringing on anyone else's joyous celebration."
More information is available by calling the church, at 212 Danis St., on Tuesday or Thursday at 726-6360. The
