Blue Christmas 2025

The history of Blue Christmas ceremonies is deeply rooted in the tradition of honoring many Holiday ceremonies from various faiths: Christmas, Kwanza, Hannukah. These ceremonies, also known as the Longest Night, are observed in Western denominatins and Faiths, and mark the longet night of the year, typically around December 21, but in A Caring Place, always the first Saturday in December.

During this time, services that honor those who have lost loved ones, lost pets, lost dreams, or perhaps lost abilities, provide a space for expression of grief and focus on the promises of hope. The ceremony will include opportunities for grieving and reflection, with candles and soft music. It represents the struggle with darkness and grief faced by those living with loss and the long nights jube fore Christmas

Afterwards, we celebrate our togetherness with a wonderful delicious luncheon, and entertainment brought to us via Lynn Ervin and her magical bell ringers. It will end with a celebration of joy that we obtain through our communion together, and our love for one another.

A welcoming speech will be given by Pastor Jon Roller of Beaumont Presbyterian Church, with the Ceremony hosted by Rev Ray Mendenhall and his lovely wife, Ann.

This year, we have a wonderful gift for all of our participants. Stay tune to find out what it is and from whom.

We All Wish you a reflective and meaningful Holiday season.........

With love,

A Caring Place Village

Blue Christmas 2023

Our first annual Blue Christmas was held in Grace United Lutheran Episcopal Church with the Rev Laura Altman presiding. This event was initiated by Judy Bradley when she remarked Christmas was the loneliest time of year for those who were socially isolated and had no one to love them. Fifty six people came on Dec 3 to a wonderful emotional ceremony followed by a luncheon which was a mixture of homemade potluck goodies, awesome catered desserts by Sequell Inc, and 50 pounds of smoked turkey, plus ham. Delicious!!!! A wonderful day....mark your calendar for next December, we will do it again!