It seems the holiday season starts earlier each year. Stores begin setting up seasonal displays a few months before the holidays, and shoppers are busy checking off items on their wish lists. These sights and sounds usually spread joy and happiness. However, while the world around us is immersed in the sights and sounds of Christmas, for some of us, the holiday season can make the absence of a loved one especially difficult. Understanding the struggle individuals and families have this time of year, Roper & Sons Funeral Home in Lincoln, Nebraska will host a Blue Christmas Service on December 18, 2022.
What is a Blue Christmas Service?
A Blue Christmas Service is a Western Christian tradition that has been observed in the U.S. since 1990. Celebrated during the Advent season, it is usually observed on or near the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. It is a service that gives individuals the ability to experience their grief, pain, and loss with others, and the opportunity to look forward to healing with hope.
For individuals having difficulty finding joy in the season, a Blue Christmas service can offer a comforting and welcoming environment for people to come together to find the support they need.
The Blue Christmas Service will be held on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at Roper & Sons South Chapel, located at 3950 Hohensee Drive (40th and Yankee Hill) in Lincoln, Nebraska.
A Blue Christmas Service can vary in length and style, but typically it is a combination of readings and songs that reflect the complex feelings some may have during the holidays while mourning the loss of a loved one. Roper & Sons’ service will be conducted by Pastor Kerry O’Bryant and Pastor Kara Hillhouse and will offer reflection, acceptance of where individuals are and how difficult it is, and let them know they are not alone. Music will be offered by Ariel Merivil, Rebecca Kouma, and Mike Jensen. This service is for anyone in the Lincoln community who is struggling to find comfort and hope. For more information, go to roperandsons.com.
Other Ways to Cope with Grief during the Holidays
It’s important to acknowledge that the holidays will be hard for those who are experiencing it for the first time without their loved one. Here are a few ways that may help you begin to find comfort and healing.
- Create a new tradition in memory of the person you lost.
- Consider where to celebrate the holiday. For some, changing the location may be too difficult, while others may find comfort in keeping things the same.
- At your family gathering, invite everyone to write something about what they loved about the person and read them together.
- Think about donating to a charity in memory of your loved one.
Grief Group Counseling
Addressing the healing of the community as a whole is why Roper & Sons offers a common place and a comforting environment for expressing emotions through each phase of the grieving process. Roper & Sons offers free Grief Group Counseling sessions that are open to anyone in the community. Grief Group Counseling sessions are held the first and third Sunday of each month from 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. at Roper & Sons Midtown Chapel, located at 4300 O Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. Addiction Loss Group sessions are held every third Sunday of the month from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at the Midtown Chapel. Melissa Thorne, LIMHP, LADC, a Grief Therapist at Roper & Sons, leads the sessions.
This holiday season, Roper & Sons Funeral Home encourages those struggling to find comfort and support together.