The winter solstice was Wednesday. We have a tradition of offering a worship service on the day (in our hemisphere) with the shortest amount of daylight. On this longest night of the year, we take some time amidst the celebrations of this Christmas and holiday season to approach God in honesty and humility. On this longest night of the year we bring our questions, our sorrows, and our hurts. As we lament together, we remember those we may have lost. Yet, we also seek peace as we hold each other in love this night.

Some of us are feeling joyful and festive. Some of us are hurting or angry or afraid. Some of us are grieving and sad. I dare say all of us are tired. God can feel so far away. 

Fortunately for us, we are not the first people to feel this way. From time immemorial, people have cried out to God. Including our biblical writers who shout their laments to the Author of Life. For instance, the Psalmist cries with us: “How long, O God will you ignore the prayers of your people? You have fed them with the bread of tears.”

Our intent with this service is to offer safe space to honestly name our hurts and our despair; to plead with God and, if need be, to let our tears flow. But we are clear that despair is not our home. So tonight we also pray and sing together as we put our hope in Jesus’ promise “to be with us, even to the end of the age.” Today we find ourselves in the longest night of the year, but we are not alone.

As our Indigenous siblings wisely remind us, After the solstice, “the earth turns again toward the sun. May our tomorrows be illuminated with solidarity and love,” for that is the light that drives out all bleakness.

I hope this helps. Would love to hear what you think of it.