Southport churches hold service to support those feeling the holiday blues

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — While the holidays are a time for happiness, joy, and time spent with family and friends, it can also be a time for grieving and loneliness.

To help people who might be dealing with grief and loss, Southport Presbyterian Church held a Community Service of Comfort and Hope on Thursday night.

The service was also co-hosted by the Southport Trinity United Methodist Church, Saint Peter Lutheran Church, and Southport Baptist Church.

It was meant to provide a space for people feeling emotions like sadness, grief, and loneliness.

Reverend Mitz Johnson said this holiday is a heavy one in light of the mass shooting there in September, as well as other types of loss many are experiencing.

“To carry sadness, it might come from their loss of their job or loss of a loved one or depression or particularly in our town, recovering from the trauma that we experienced a few months ago with the shooting on our waterfront,” Johnson said. “And so tonight we will sing together, we will pray together.”

Johnson said the evening provided an opportunity for people to share their feelings and to provide one another with words of encouragement and support.