(Editor’s note: The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column, “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a different faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
By REV. DR. JILL RIERDAN and REV. MARGUERITE SHEEHAN
St. John’s Episcopal Church
of Ashfield and Trinity Church
of Shelburne Falls
The poet Jan Richardson writes in her poem, “Rough Translation”:
Hope nonetheless.
Hope despite.
Hope regardless.
Hope still.
The coming of Christmas has always been about hope. In the face of Roman persecution of the Jews, hope nonetheless. In the face of Mary’s journey to Bethlehem while almost nine months pregnant, hope despite. With no midwife, no room, even, for giving birth, hope regardless. And for us, today, hope still.
Christmas has always been about hope. Hope that acknowledges the need for hope in the face of loss and fear, poverty and persecution, neglect and violence, division and disasters within families, communities, the nations and the world. As one Christmas carol invites us to sing, hopes and fears come together on Christmas; it’s not one or the other.
This is the why the two of us, from St John’s Episcopal Church in Ashfield and Trinity Church in Shelburne Falls, are offering a special ecumenical service on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. at Trinity Church. We call it “Blue Christmas: A Service of Comfort and Hope.”
The clergy and congregations of the two churches will join together with members of other congregations and — we hope! — members of the community who might not otherwise attend a church service during the frantic weeks of December. Having an ecumenical service seems especially important in these times, when separation and divisiveness have been so prominently in the news.
Our two churches represent four Christian faith traditions: American Baptist, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, and United Methodist. We both believe that houses of faith need to create new ways to come together in worship and service and community caring. Certainly, that was the message Jesus brought into the world.
Rev. Jill’s experience in her former career as a clinical psychologist is that people can’t begin to feel the hope of Christmas unless they are also given an opportunity to honor their losses, grief and fears with others. Marguerite’s experience in her former career as an early childhood educator is that holiday times, while often filled with joy, are also often times of stress and anxiety; therefore, we all need ways to quiet our souls. Churches can provide these opportunities.
Honoring sadness and concerns is a powerful message during this time of year when people feel compelled to act happy even if they aren’t. Coming together as our real selves to worship and support our neighbors and ourselves reminds us of the true Christmas message. We need to remember that Santa’s ho-ho-ho had its origin in the angels’ chorus of Holy, Holy, Holy, at the birth of the Child. The first Christmas was not about lighthearted optimism, but about hope, nonetheless. And that’s still true.
Some ask: won’t it be depressing? The resounding answer from those who have attended this service is that it is full of light and comfort and hope. Some will want to attend the reception that follows the service; others will want to leave with a sense of being held in community and in hope by the One who loves unconditionally.
Our Blue Christmas service is different from a usual Sunday service and it is inviting to all, including those who haven’t attended a religious service for a while, or ever. The service has been described as beautiful and homey, with quilts replacing formal church cloths, candle-lighting by everyone who wishes to participate, music, a contemporary Celtic communion ritual, and quiet, itself. The only collection is of the prayers that people write on slips of paper.
Sometimes people attend because of personal concerns, sometimes because of ill relatives or loved ones struggling with substance abuse; sometimes people attend because they need a sanctuary where they can bring their concerns about the future of their country, the environment and the world. Some will sing in their hearts, Oh Come, oh come, Emmanuel.
We hope everyone will whisper, Hope, still.