Community

Bringing light in darker times

Christmas services continue in Kelowna to bring people together after dark year

Kelowna Community Church was one of many across the Okanagan who welcomed guests for a night of carols, scriptures, and candle lighting to bring some warmth into people’s lives during challenging times.

Lead Pastor Mark Wagner told Kelowna10 the church has kept a close eye on what restrictions were in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, but Wager knew it was important to have some semblance of a service after a tough year.

“The importance of it is the same importance every year; celebrating the birth of Jesus, but perhaps even more this year with the secondary pandemics,” he said. “The pandemics of loneliness, drug overdose, depression. These things that result from loneliness are very real. And of course, we had the longest night of the year as well.”

Under the current health guidelines, faith gatherings were capped at 50 per cent capacity. But Wagner said this time of year is a great time for everyone to get together and reflect and create a sense of togetherness.

“I think when our folks come, particularly our older folks, perhaps who are lonely, I think it’s very good for them to be together, to go through familiar routines of the carol singing and the reminding of the scriptures,” he said. “These are things that I think help to stave off the loneliness and perhaps improve some mental health and spiritual health as well.”

Published 2021-12-25 by Connor Chan

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