White or Blue Christmas?
In one of my previous church appointments, every year we would host a “Blue Christmas” worship service. The purpose of a Blue Christmas service is to praise God while also recognizing that some people do not have pleasant thoughts and memories about the Holidays. “Blue Christmas” allows folks to recognize their legitimate feelings while also hoping to assist them in the healing process.
This Holiday Season is already proving to be a big struggle for lots of folks, especially those who have recently lost loved ones. While the rest of us are chasing sugar plums, some of our friends are facing empty chairs at the table and cold places in the bed. In the last few months at the Chapel, we have lost a number of friends and loved ones, each who are equally important and significant in the eyes of God. This Holiday Season will be challenging.
Among those that we’ve lost is Reverend Charlie Shook, the Chapel’s Pastor Emeritus, who passed away a few days ago. Reverend Shook was ordained in 1951. Few pastors ever reach the 70-year milestone in vocational ministry, but Rev. Charlie did, preaching his final sermon at the Chapel in 2023. Like so many others that we’ve lost in the Chapel family, Rev. Shook really struggled in these last few months. His memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2:00 pm in the Chapel sanctuary.
The Shook family, along with the other families who have endured great loss recently, need our prayers. They also need our occasional phone calls, texts, and written notes. Sometimes, just a little check-in can make all the difference in the world. Our sugar plums aren’t going anywhere, so a very slight pause to pray for our surviving caregivers, spouses, and loved ones can make a big difference.
I wanted to take some time in Chapeline to address the subject of loss because all of us deal with loss in some manner. I wanted to point out that as we fight rotted drywall and malfunctioning elevators, some of our Chapel family are struggling with all that in addition to the loss of a loved one.
God is not trying to punish anyone, nor is God trying to see if we are strong enough to withstand the challenges in front of us. Instead, God is trying to bless people in the midst of their trials. When we allow ourselves to become vulnerable to God’s work, we become part of God’s blessing to others. In other words, when we are paying attention and caring for the needs of people around us, we become a blessing to others. We are actually transformed into God’s blessing for others. That’s really cool.
We might not be able to deliver a hand-crafted White Christmas to anyone. But if we follow God’s lead, we might sure help someone else weave through their Blue Christmas.
I hope to see you soon, in person or online, at the Chapel!
God Bless, Brock.
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