Bethany Lutheran Church hosts worship service for those grieving

Bethany Lutheran Church will be hosting a Service of Longest Night on Thursday, December 21 at 7:00 pm. This Christmas worship service is different than many others as it acknowledges the grief and pain that many experience during the holidays. “We get this message that Christmas is meant to be ‘merry and bright,’ but really it is this time of year when we can feel our losses most deeply—the death of a loved one, the loss that comes with divorce or unemployment, loneliness or health issues. The Service of Longest Night offers sacred space for our grief,” says Pastor Elaina Salmon.

The Service of Longest Night is open to the community, regardless of church background or non-affiliation. Worship will include prayer, scripture, candlelight, and music which express lament and longing, as well as the promise of God’s presence with those who mourn or struggle.

The service can be attended in person at Bethany Lutheran Church, 500 Lemont St, Lemont, IL. An accessible entrance with ramp and elevator is available off Lincoln Street. Individuals may also attend the service online at bethanylemont.org/worship.

Bethany Lutheran Church, founded in 1872, is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.