By Cameron Weston
WHILE many Australians gleefully throw themselves into the annual frenzy of shopping, stuffing and socialising known as Christmas, for some people, it is the toughest time of the year.
“There are people out there who do not want to be a part of all the trappings of Christmas, the tinsel and the carols and all that,” Pastor Peter Clark from the Newport Baptist Church said.
“It could be people who are just sick and tired of the rat race, or people who may have suffered some trauma in years gone by.”
The Newport Baptist Church is addressing this often-overlooked side to the silly season this week, with a ‘Solace’ service and seminar.
Pastor Clark said the idea for the program came from a parishioner who had seen a similar concept achieving positive results in regional New South Wales.
The solace seminar was designed to be non-religious and inclusive, Pastor Clark said, and would provide opportunities for personal remembrance and reflection, candle lighting and conversation with like minds over a cup of coffee.
There will also be trained facilitators on hand to ensure that people’s concerns and emotions are handled appropriately.
At a time when much of society is brimming with enthusiasm, the service and seminar allow people to acknowledge sadness and difficulty and ease their burden through sharing it, rather than retreating into isolation, Pastor Clark said.
“The seminar is really for those people who avoid Christmas.
“It is designed to help people understand why they feel that way.
“It may be a death or some other negative experience but there are things they can put in place to get through Christmas without hiding away from the world.”
The Solace seminar will be held tonight, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, while the service will be conducted on Saturday 9 December from 10am. Both events will be held at the Newport Baptist Church, 26 Mason St, Newport.
