This Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent. It is also called “Gaudete Sunday.” Gaudete is Latin for “Rejoice.” This Sunday is the Sunday of joy and as such we light the pink candle—which should make Barbie fans happy. 

Why does Pink represent joy? 

Pink is bright. It’s alive. It’s fun (again according to Barbie fans). Pink is joy.

Before pink, it’s blue. At least around here today. I’m writing this on the occasion of our Blue Christmas service. Blue is not traditionally a Christmas color. Purple is the color of Advent. Red and green are colors associated with Christmas too. People dream of a white Christmas. But Blue?  No, not Blue. Blue represents sadness. “I’m blue” is what we say when we are feeling down or melancholy. We aren’t supposed to be “blue” at Christmas. 

Except that many folks are. 

Last Sunday as the choir was singing, it dawned on me that my dear friend, Lisa who lived with Karla and me for 16 months before her passing in March, would have loved to had been there. She would have been sitting in the front row. Singing her heart out with the choir. Lisa loved music. Any music. All music. So as the choir sang, I looked over at the empty place that Lisa would have occupied and I got a little blue.

I know, Lisa is with Jesus. I’m glad for that. I know that she isn’t in pain and cancer is no more for her. I don’t wish her back. I just remembered the joy that she would have experienced and the joy that she brought to so many people who knew her. I envisioned her arms raised as she lifted her praise loud and long to Jesus. I missed my friend. It made me a little blue.

I think that’s why we have the service tonight. It’s not necessarily to wish our loved ones back (although when they have tragically passed away there may be some of those feelings). The service is meant to acknowledge our loss and to go to Jesus with it. It’s a time when we don’t have to paste on a smile like at an office Christmas party. There is no phoniness about a Blue Christmas Service. It’s just the opposite. It’s a time to be real. Honest. Unguarded. Open. Vulnerable even. It’s a time to cry out to the Lord in our “blue-ness’ and remember with the Psalmist: The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:17-18).

Blue Christmas might be where you are at this year. Or maybe you want to come to the service to simply support those who are going thought a tough season. This year our Blue Christmas service will have a little bit different emotion for me. I’m glad we have such a service. I bet you know someone who could benefit from the Blue Christmas Service too. 

You can read about about our friend and cancer here: