Beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts, Christmas trees, holiday parties, unending upbeat carols in shops and malls, visits from friends and family, baking and cooking, food everywhere — and the awed, hushed joy of welcoming a tiny infant to the world — these are the images and memories of Christmas most of us celebrate and treasure.

But each year some people — the grieving, the lonely, the sad — dread the approach of the holiday season. They have no heart for the cheer and the bustle, the anticipation and the excitement because they have experienced loss that still grips their hearts.

Maybe the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of a marriage or some other painful loss that has brought great distress into their lives is causing a less than joyful holiday season.

The First Baptist Church of Springfield will present a special worship service called “Hope for Christmas: a service for those hurting during the holidays.” The service will be held Dec. 23 at 6 p.m.    

This service will honor God and bring encouragement and hope through contemplative music, prayer, God’s Word and the warmth of God’s people. Those attending will not be asked to do anything publicly. This will be a time for private contemplation and remembrance.

It is hoped that this service will be a place of comfort and hope for the Christmas season.

The community is invited to attend this moving service and also encouraged to bring friends and family who need to be lifted up.

The First Baptist Church of Springfield is located on Highway 119 north of Springfield. For directions and contact information call 754-3443 or visit www.fbc-springfield.org.