Dec. 21 marks this year’s Winter Solstice — the time of year when the Earth’s northern pole will tilt furthest from the sun and cause the year’s shortest day and longest night.
Marlton United Methodist Church pastor Anna Gillette likens that long-lasting darkness to the feelings many might be having this time of year when trying to deal with grief, illness or other hardships during any forced merriment that inevitably comes with the Christmas season.
To help people combat those feelings, Marlton United Methodist will be holding a “Longest Night” worship service on the solstice at 7 p.m. to provide a safe, quiet place for people to contemplate the meaning of Christmas during difficult times.
Gillette, who started as pastor of the congregation in July, said she first experienced a Longest Night service around 10 years ago at the church she was attending while living in her native Texas.
Gillette said her son had just been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and she was still hurt and angry about the situation and, in her words, “felt as if everyone was trying to stuff holly and mistletoe down my throat.”
She said it was hard to feel jolly this time of year, and then she experienced a service that was quiet and more focused on hope.
“It’s just a more quiet moment where you acknowledge the pain and difficulties you’re going through, and you look for the light while you’re going through the darkness,” Gillette said.
According to Gillette, it’s important that people recognize the Christmas season isn’t always akin to a storybook with a happy ending, and instead some people are lonely or in pain, and everyone should allow a time and space to reflect on that.
“It’s hard because you feel like you’re supposed to be happy but you can’t always conjure up the joy that is expected,” Gillette said. “This gives people space to reflect on where they are.”
Whether people are going through difficult times financially, feeling the loss of a loved one, going through an illness or even experiencing fear from tragic events across the country, Gillette said people can come and acknowledge there is always a glimmer of hope.
“It’s the longest night of the year on the winter solstice, and it’s a good time to say this is the longest night, but also there is hope that the sun will rise in the morning,” Gillette said.
The service, about 45 minutes in length, will be mostly traditional, according to Gillette, with prayer, scripture, quiet hymns and the lighting of specific candles for those who are experiencing hardships.
Gillette said people can come and sit in the back and be quiet and just observe, or they can come and be a part of the singing and prayer.
And while Gillette said no one who attends the service has to speak to anyone else, there will be members of the church available at the end of the service if they want to talk.
To learn more about the event or Marlton UMC, located at Marlborough Avenue and Plymouth Drive, visit www.marltonumc.com or call (856) 983–9587.
“It’s all about their comfort,” Gillette said.
