By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP - For those who are grieving, the holiday season can evoke painful memories.

"Regular Christmas services are usually very family-oriented, and family memories bubble up. It was a hard time for a lot of people," said Kathy Baughman, one of the organizers of the yearly Blue Christmas service at Disciples Christian Church, 3401 Hamilton-Mason Road, in Fairfield Township.

"We think it's important to have a service where God's love is preached, but for people who are suffering," said Baughman, who found great solace in the annual service two years ago when a family member died a few months before Christmas.

The church started the service after Pastor Edie Shiflet came to the church. She had done the service at another church and found it helped people who felt down during the Christmas season.

"It's OK to be unhappy. God still loves you and cares that you're sad, even when you're not feeling particularly merry. Jesus came for all of us."

This year's service is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, call 863-2200.

Advent service

Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church will host a unique service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the church's Erie Building at 3020 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, with members of the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal Church and Christ the King Catholic Church in Mount Lookout.

The Taize Prayer Service, consisting of music, gospel readings, chants and quiet mediation, is based on ancient Christian traditions revived by the Church of the Reconciliation in the village of Taize, France. The church, known as a place of pilgrimage for people of all backgrounds and languages, especially young adults, began the services during World War II for war refugees.

'Black Nativity'

The Cincinnati Black Theatre Company will perform Black Nativity, a Gospel song play by Langston Hughes, from Dec. 11-21 in the Xavier University's Gallagher Student Center Theatre.

Tickets for the play are $18 for the shows at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, a 3 p.m. Saturday matinee, and at 7 p.m. Sunday, and can be purchased by calling 421-1100.

Advent benefit

North Bend United Methodist Church, 123 Symmes Ave., North Bend, will host a "Christmas Story in Word and Song" to benefit Hospice of Cincinnati. Douglas Lindsay, a trumpeter with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra, will perform with the Fellowship Praise Band for the concert at 7 p.m. Sunday. Information: 941-3061.

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E-mail kvance@fuse.net or send a fax to 755-4150.