Description
For those carrying grief, illness, trauma, loneliness or complicated emotions, the expectation of holiday cheer can make December particularly difficult. Waiting Together for the Dawn offers congregations a sacred space where those feelings do not need to be hidden or hurried away.
Written by the Rev. Dr. Charissa Clark Howe, this complete Blue Christmas/Longest Night service invites worshipers to name their laments in community and trust that God meets us in the darkness. Rather than rushing toward celebration, the liturgy makes room for heartbreak, doubt and grief as holy prayers — while holding onto the “gentle, stubborn hope” of Christ’s light.
Designed for use around the winter solstice, the service draws on the imagery of darkness and light and the promise of Emmanuel, God with us. Its central message is not that grief must disappear before Christmas arrives, but that we can wait together for the dawn.
Inside this resource, you’ll find:
- A complete order of worship, including a call to worship, responsive prayers, prayer in unison, hymn suggestions and benediction.
- Scripture recommendations
- “A Stubborn Light in the Depths,” a ready-to-use reflection exploring grief, trauma and loneliness alongside the Christian promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
- An interactive prayer practice
- Practical guidance for worship leaders, including a supply list and suggestions for allowing enough silence and space for participants to engage at their own pace.
A service that doesn’t rush the darkness
A Blue Christmas service does not need to fix grief or manufacture hope. It can simply create room for people to bring their whole selves before God.
Waiting Together for the Dawn intentionally pushes back against toxic positivity and spiritual bypassing, acknowledging that the seasons of our lives do not always match the celebrations on the calendar. Instead, this liturgy offers a different kind of Advent hope: Christ enters the darkness and meets us there.
Whether your congregation has offered a Longest Night service for years or is planning one for the first time, this resource provides the words, structure and practical guidance you need to create a contemplative worship experience for your church and wider community.
Why offer a Blue Christmas service?
Christmas can intensify grief and loneliness. Churches have an opportunity to offer another kind of space: one where people do not need to pretend they are doing well or manufacture holiday cheer.
Waiting Together for the Dawn can help your congregation:
- Make room for grief and complicated emotions during a season often dominated by celebration.
- Offer a gentle, contemplative worship experience for those who need quiet and spaciousness.
- Practice the ministry of presence, reminding worshipers that they do not carry their burdens alone.
- Hold sorrow and hope together without rushing toward easy answers.
- Extend pastoral care through worship to members of your congregation and wider community.
Sample
Who is this resource for?
This digital liturgy is ideal for congregations planning:
- Blue Christmas worship
- Longest Night services
- Advent gatherings centered on grief and healing
- Pastoral care ministries
- Small-group or intimate worship experiences
Whether offered on the longest night of the year or at another point during Advent, Waiting Together for the Dawn can help your church create a compassionate place for those who find this season difficult.
About the author
The Rev. Dr. Charissa Clark Howe is pastor of Sixth Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. With a background in missional leadership and a particular focus on trauma theology, she brings a trauma-informed lens to worship, pastoral care and congregational life. She recently completed her ICF coach training and enjoys coaching clergy and other leaders.
Charissa and her husband have parented a number of biological and foster children. Their busy household also includes a growing collection of rescued dogs and cats — with plenty of room for game nights and silly theme parties.
