That Happy Certainty - Gospel | Culture | Planting
  • Writing
    • Not in Vain: 1 Corinthians Devotional
    • Explore Lamentations
    • eBook: Good News People
    • eBook: Filtered Grace
    • Gospel Coalition Articles
    • Church Society Articles
    • Threads Articles
    • Explore Ecclesiastes
    • Explore Galatians
    • Evangelicals Now Articles
  • Book Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Join Us
Writing
    Not in Vain: 1 Corinthians Devotional
    Explore Lamentations
    eBook: Good News People
    eBook: Filtered Grace
    Gospel Coalition Articles
    Church Society Articles
    Threads Articles
    Explore Ecclesiastes
    Explore Galatians
    Evangelicals Now Articles
Book Reviews
Interviews
Join Us
  • Writing
    • Not in Vain: 1 Corinthians Devotional
    • Explore Lamentations
    • eBook: Good News People
    • eBook: Filtered Grace
    • Gospel Coalition Articles
    • Church Society Articles
    • Threads Articles
    • Explore Ecclesiastes
    • Explore Galatians
    • Evangelicals Now Articles
  • Book Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Join Us
That Happy Certainty - Gospel | Culture | Planting
Ministry

Why We Should All Be Preparing for a Blue Christmas

It’s becoming increasingly common for churches to have ‘Blue Christmas’ services or events in the run-up to Christmas Day. But as important as these evidently are, I wonder if their popularity helps us to see that actually we should ensure every carol service should include a ‘minor key’.

Finding Hope on the The Longest Night

Not to be confused with the Elvis Presley song, the ‘Blue Christmas’ idea is born out of a recognition that for many of us the ‘enforced cheer’ often associated with the Christmas season either feels out of sync with our everyday experiences of life this past year, or that it evokes painful memories of loved ones now no longer with us.

Sometimes such events are run on the 21st December, i.e. the longest night of the year. For example, we’re hoping to run a town-wide service on that evening, entitled ‘Blue Christmas: Finding Hope on the Longest Night’.

Typically the events will include the opportunity to express grief and pain, as well as a chance to explore how the Christian story offers hope amidst darkness. One service I read about included the opportunity for each participant to bring an unlit candle to a crib, symbolising the darkness each individual carries, and the opportunity was given later in the service for each person to then light their candle. There will often be carols chosen that emphasise this ‘minor key’, such as O Come O Come Emmanuel or In the Bleak Midwinter, as well as Bible readings like Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-5.

Unwrapping the Real Christmas

But reflecting on this has underlined for me that actually every carol service would do well to acknowledge this ‘blue’ mood that many particularly feel at this time of year. The last thing we want is for people to feel they have to ‘fake it’, and that their grief and pain has to be left at the door.

After all, isn’t that the whole point of Christmas anyway?

Our Saviour wasn’t born to a world that was perfectly wrapped with a tag and a bow. Read the familiar lines slowly and you see that the Christmas story is full of people who you could say were feeling ‘blue’. People far from home. People living in darkness and facing political unrest. People consumed by childlessness and feeling the grim shadow of death upon their lives.

And though there is rejoicing at the birth of this baby, though there is ‘good news of great joy for all people’, though – as the carol puts it – “meek souls will receive him still”, we remain “in this world of sin,” a world ravaged by tragedy and living in trauma.

‘Sadness Kept Present, But Met With Hope’

So why would we not acknowledge this in all of our Christmas events and services? This isn’t about being a Grinch and stealing Christmas, or a Scrooge and saying ‘humbug’ to any festive fun.

But won’t our preaching and leading and drawing people together be all the more compelling and authentic when we acknowledge the ‘minor key’ of Christmas?

Maybe just a well-placed line in our welcome or as we begin our talk? A personal recognition of the darkness we will all have felt in some measure this past year? A simple noting how our Christmas readings and carols are wired with this recognition – and therefore that the Bible rings true with life as we know it?

Isn’t that the true beauty of Christmas. As someone put it, that ‘sadness can be kept present, but met with hope’.

If you want an example of articulating this ‘mood’ and presenting the gospel in a way that connects with it, check out Glen Scrivener’s brilliant video from a few years back, ‘Christmas in Dark Places’.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
November 19, 2019by Robin Ham
Refill

The Christmas Refill – 5 Early Gifts to Enjoy

It’s Christmas Eve, so we’ll ditch the seven links format and keep it simple…

Something to download (for free): The Light Came Down by Josh Garrels

I was given Josh’s latest album a few weeks back for my birthday and I can’t quite believe the kind and gifted soul is now giving it away for free for a limited time. If you’ve not come across Garrels before, he excels at beautiful melodies and haunting vocals. The Light Came Down has a Christmas theme to it, which makes this the perfect soundtrack to chilled evenings over the next few weeks. Oh, and while you’re perusing Noisetrade, you can also pick up this handy guide to how the Christian faith interacts with social media (ahem, subtle plug).

Something to read: Am I a Christian, Pastor Timothy Keller?

NY Times op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof interviews pastor Tim Keller about the historicity of the birth of Jesus, doubt and faith. Edifying stuff.

Something to chuckle at: Getting Back with Dave Benson Phillips

An old school-mate has somehow managed to persuade Dave Benson Phillips, the presenter of 90’s kids’ TV show Get Your Own Back, to star in a mockumentary about Dave working with a famous but fictional vlogger. You most probably heard it here first!

Something to remember: How to Show Your Kids Grace This Christmas

Holding tight to the gospel in the midst of the inevitable pressures and tensions of Christmas…

Something to watch: 

Kaylee Rodgers, from County Down, Northern Ireland, leads vocals as the choir of Killard House Special School performs Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Kaylee has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but says singing has helped her build up her confidence.

By the way, if you didn’t see my favourite 19 Christmas videos, then check them out here.

Thanks for reading, sharing & supporting That Happy Certainty through 2016. May your hearts be warmed as you savour the wonder of God becoming human for us. Merry Christmas to you and your kin!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
December 24, 2016by Robin Ham
Uncategorized, Apologetics & Evangelism, media

13 Excellent Christmas & Advent Videos for 2015

In keeping with Christmas traditions, here’s my 2015 list of some of the best short videos I’ve come across to mark Advent & Christmas 2015. Whether it be sharing online, or playing in a Carol Service or assembly, hopefully there’s something here for you.

You can also check out my 2013 and 2014 lists.

Know of any others?

1. Four Kinds of Christmas – Glen Scrivener

Brilliant one-shot video, but so well thought-out. Glen’s Christmas videos are always top-notch, but the question of the ‘four kinds’ is a great way to get us thinking. We love working out our ‘type’ so I reckon this, alongside the interactive website and book, will be a great conversation starter.


2. Loved This Christmas (The Baby From The Stars) – Dan Rackham

A simple but powerful re-make of the popular ‘Man On The Moon’ John Lewis ad, with a heart-warming twist. Also features a ‘Continue the Story’ link, with an accompanying website.

 

3. Away in a Mangy Manger – Christmas Carols Radio

Ben Vane from the excellent Christmas Carols Radio unpicks the lyrics of that popular carol, and poetically exposes something of the shock that God would come to that ‘mangy manger’.

4. 4 Words, 4 Stories – Spoken Truth (Dai Woolridge)

Dai offers another of his spoken word pieces and seeks to apply the realities of the Christmas story into the realities of the fears that 2015 seems to have been particularly marked by. Fantastic.

 

5. What’s in the Box? – The Good Book Company

Clever animation designed to get people re-thinking about Christmas. Comes with accompanying book by Rice Tice & Nate Morgan-Locke.

 

6. InstaChristmas – Discovery Church

Simple but clever re-telling of the Christmas story through Instagram images.

 

7. The First Coming – Dan Stevers

Some stunning visuals, alongside a dramatic narration. Dan has many more short visuals suited for Advent & Christmas on his website.

 

8. Advent (God With Us) – The Village Church

Spoken word piece capturing how God’s coming in Jesus was the fulfilment of a people’s hopes and dreams.

 

9. Upside Down Christmas – Creative Pastors

A simple spoken reading, but watch ’til then end and you’ll see it’s actually very clever!

 

10. The Paradox of Christmas – Igniter Media

Disneyesque re-telling of the Christmas story, but still capturing its wonder.

https://www.ignitermedia.com/embed/1891-the-paradox-of-christmas

 

11. Christmas in Dark Places – Glen Scrivener

Although this is from 2013, I think it has to be one of my favourites. It is sensitive to the fact that for many Christmas is actually a hard time of year.

 

12. Three Wise Men – The Nativity Factor

Funny contemporary ‘re-telling’ of Jesus’ birth.

 

13. Christmas Eve Childbirth in the back of a Taxi – The Nativity Factor

What if it had all happened in 2015?

 

14. Force Awakens Parody – Christmas Starts With Christ

Well, someone had to go there with a Star Wars mash-up…

—

Found others that are worth sharing? Please stick them in the comments below!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
December 3, 2015by Robin Ham
Page 1 of 3123»

About Me

Hello, my name is Robin. Welcome to That Happy Certainty, where I write and collate on Christianity, culture, and church-planting. I’m based in Barrow in South Cumbria, England, where my family & I are part of Grace Church Barrow.

‘Not In Vain’ – 1 Corinthians 31-day devotional

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Top Posts

  • The Sunday Refill - 7 Links for Your Weekend (7/3/21)
    The Sunday Refill - 7 Links for Your Weekend (7/3/21)
  • "We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience"
    "We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience"
  • App Review: PrayerMate
    App Review: PrayerMate
Refill on inspiring Christian links each week and join 1,021 other subscribers...

Thank you for subscribing! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

“If we could be fully persuaded that we are in the good grace of God, that our sins are forgiven, that we have the Spirit of Christ, that we are the beloved children of God, we would be ever so happy and grateful to God. But because we often fear and doubt we cannot come to that happy certainty.”
- Martin Luther

© 2018 copyright That Happy Certainty // All rights reserved //
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.