Dear Community,

The Congregational Church, 280 South Spartan Ave., will be holding its Longest Night Service on Friday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m.

This is a hard time of the year when days are getting shorter and the Holiday Season is upon us and we are supposed to be happy and cheerful. But for many in our community, this is not a happy time of the year. We have had so much loss in our community this year, even more than previous years or maybe it is the first Christmas without a loved one, or you have lost someone in the past and brings of feelings of loneliness, or having to take care of a family member that is sick or in and out of the hospital, lost of employment, or just feeling empty inside.

We want you to know that you are not alone with your burdens and there are people that love you and support you in your time of need. No matter where you are on your life journey there is a community out here in the West End that is ready to support you.

Pastor Tom Lafrenz from the Nazarene Church, Pastor Andy Pursley from the Assembly of God and Pastor Warren Johnson from the Congregational Church will be leading the service. Music for this Service will be provided by Juanita Weissenfels and Ryan Watson.

This is the 25th year that we have been gathering for the longest night service. Many Community members and relatives of community members have place ornaments on the Memory Tree since 1993 for loved ones or pets that they miss dearly. Please bring an ornament in remembrance of a loved one that was near and dear to you that you can place on the memory tree. If you bring an ornament to put on the tree please write on it so in future years when we put them on the tree we know who they are for. We will also be lighting candles to reflect the lives of those we miss and long for.

There is a second part of the service which will be a healing and anointing which will be overseen by all three pastors. This has been a very powerful part of the service in the past and has become a lot more significant with all three pastors working together.

This is a nondenominational/Ecumenical event where everyone is welcome.

Blessings, Pastor Warren Johnson