By Morgan Mizell

NATCHEZ — Several area church leaders have joined together to offer a special Christmas service for residents of the Miss-Lou who may be struggling during this time of year.

The first “Blue Christmas” service will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Grace United Methodist Church, 2 Fatherland Road in Natchez.

The Rev. Nance Hixon said he wanted to do something for those who are dealing with the mixed emotions the holidays can ocassionally bring.

“This can be the most wonderful time of the year,” Hixon said. “Then again, for some people, it can be the most horrible time of the year. For some people, the holidays reopen old wounds, stir up regrets and loneliness, and there are those who are just struggling through and we hope this service will help them find peace and hope.”

Hixon, along with the Rev. Jeff Brewer of Parkway Baptist Church, the Rev. Kevin Deason of New Direction Outreach Ministries, the Rev. Seth Duhs and his wife Roberta of New Covenant Presbyterian, Jan and Pete Mills of Compassionate Care Hospice and the Rev. Birdon Mitchell of Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church have been planning the service.

Jan and Pete Mills, who are also part of the Ministerial Alliance with Hixon, said they think this service is needed.

“It is an opportunity for those who have experienced a death or other loss to hear and say God’s word,” Jan Mills said. “It is an opportunity for them to be ministered to through music, to remember, to reflect  and to be comforted by the Holy Spirit.”

The Mills, who are chaplains with Compassionate Care Hospice, said they are glad to see this service taking place because they have seen a need for a worship service that recognizes pain and grief and helps with healing.”

The service is open to everyone.

“If you need some help getting through this season, I hope you will come,” Hixon said. “If you know someone else who needs help, I hope you will ask them to come with you.”

The group says they do not feel there has been a service like this before. They think that if even one person is helped, they will continue to do this service every year.

The service will contain many elements of a traditional church service including prayer and scripture readings. A lot of candlelight will also be used in the service.

“We actually have a theme for our program — light shining in the darkness,” Hixon said. “We hope that people who may be in a dark place in their life will walk into this service and find the light of God shining in their life and drive that darkness back.”