Tonight at 7, Tibbetts United Methodist Church is presenting what its new pastor calls the “Blue Christmas/Longest Night” service. Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown describes it this way:
No, it is not just an Elvis song. For many people, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. Maybe someone you loved died this year and this is the first Christmas without them. Maybe you lost someone around Christmas time and the anniversary is painful. Maybe you’ve lost your job or even your faith. Maybe it is just the holidays are way too much to handle. For whatever reason, if you find yourself at odds with the holiday cheer, come spend an hour with others in a time to acknowledge the grief, the sadness, the pain and to find a way to hope. This is a service of readings, prayers and music.
Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW (that’s 41st/Andover; here’s a map). When we first heard from the pastor about this, and she mentioned having just been appointed, we asked her for a short bio:
Joanne has served churches in Chicago, New York City, Seattle, Eatonville, and most recently in Tacoma. She has taught at Boston University School of Theology, Pacific Lutheran University, St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and is currently adjunct faculty at Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry. She has moved to West Seattle and lives with her beloved fur person, Thistle the wonder westie. She is delighted to be at Tibbetts UMC, a Reconciling Congregation that lives out the radically inclusive gospel.
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