ANAHOLA — Anahola Koolau Huiia Protestant Church will be hosting a “Blue Christmas Candle Lighting Service” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The special service is for anyone needing encouragement and support this holiday season. It will include music, scripture readings and
ANAHOLA — Anahola Koolau Huiia Protestant Church will be hosting a “Blue Christmas Candle Lighting Service” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The special service is for anyone needing encouragement and support this holiday season. It will include music, scripture readings and meditations, and the lighting of candles.
”When the holidays approach, it’s difficult to celebrate and be full of joy when one may have experienced loss,” said Kahu Rennie Mau. “We are all dealing with some form of loss, uncertainty, grief, lament, broken relationships, divorce, finances and other events — no matter what it is, personally or on a wider scale.”
He said the service is a safe place to experience emotions.
“We invite anyone to come and light a candle of hope and receive the prayers of encouragement from our small little Hawaiian church,” he said.
“The spirit of Christmas is a multi-faceted spirit,” said Luella Lemn, church moderator. “It’s a spirit of healing, a spirit of happiness and a spirit of acceptance.”
The Blue Christmas service is intended to help folks celebrate wherever they are at, Mau said.
“It’s OK to not be blissful during the holidays, everyone has trauma at some time or another, and this service is to say it’s OK to have those times and to acknowledge that you don’t have to pretend to be happy during the holidays if you’re not,” he said.
During the service there will be an optional anointing of oil for those wishing to receive it.
There will also be materials available for those wishing more resources to cope with this time.
Koolauhuiia Protestant Church is at 4095 Kealia Road in Anahola behind the Kamehameha Pre-School.
