First United Methodist Church, 124 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, will host a "Blue Christmas Celebration" service at 7 p.m. this Wednesday.

The service is designed to help those who spend the holiday season filled with sadness instead of joy. Not everyone finds the holidays filled with comfort and joy, either due to a recent loss, past pain and sorrow, the stress and pressure of the holidays themselves or just the darkness of Winter. Even Elvis Presley recognized the sorrow some feel at Christmas, as evidenced in his song "Blue Christmas." When Elvis sang "When those blue snowflakes start falling, that's when those blue memories start calling," he memorialized the pain and sorrow felt when a loved one is missing from the celebration. For many, the holiday season is just more painful days to get through.The service will be filled with scripture readings and poetry designed to express one's inner feelings. It also offers the opportunity to sing, pray and offer up the pain, loneliness, anxiety and fear.It always helps to know you're not alone, something the service reinforces.