On Sunday Dec. 12th at 7 p.m. Sunnybrook United Church will be holding a Service of Comfort.

The worship opportunity will be a time for those to reflect that the holiday season is not always a happy time for everyone.

“The service is for anyone who wants to have a quiet presence with others and with God,” says Linda Ervin, Diaconal Minister at Sunnybrook United Church in Red Deer.

“Many memories, both of joy and sadness often emerge, people are alienated or separated from family, or people have lost loved ones in the past year and this would be the first time they have Christmas without a loved one, or their loved ones are away over the season.”

The service also acts as a refuge to those who need a rest from the hectic Christmas season.

In previous years the annual service was called Blue Christmas.

“We chose to change the name to reflect that it was a time of quiet reflection, song, readings, and candle lighting for loved ones,” says Ervin.

The Service of Comfort is a joint service with Gaetz Memorial United Church. Services of a similar nature are also offered once a month at the church.

Sunnybrook United Church is located at 12 Stanton St.

For more information call the church office at 403-347-6073.