Many churches throughout the region will be offering Christmas Eve services this year, but few are holding so-called Blue Christmas or Longest Night services.

One that will is the United Methodist Church in Rumford, pastored by Kelly Harvell.

“We are aware that Christmas is not always a happy time for everyone. Some people may have lost someone or some aren’t into big crowded ‘Joy to the World’ activities. This is more contemplative,” she said.

“This reminds us that God is with us during our struggles,” she said, adding that this is the first time her church has held a Blue Christmas service.

It takes place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21, during the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year.

Participants will be able to light a candle in memory of someone or for other purposes and comment on Scripture in the small, red and green decorated church located on Linnell Street.

On Friday evening, the church’s newly formed youth group will sing Christmas carols to those who are unable to leave their homes.

Harvell said many people, when celebrating Christmas, think only about the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem, not realizing that that birth is just the beginning of the story.

“It’s really a story of God’s desire to be in a relationship with us and how much he was willing to give up to be in that relationship,” she said. “When we look at Christmas, we’re not just looking at that birth, but at Christ’s final coming.”

Christmas Eve services:

• Bethel: Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, Christmas Eve Mass, 4:30 p.m., Sunday

• Dixfield: Congregational Church on the Hill, Christmas Eve candlelight service, 6 p.m., Sunday

• Mexico: Congregational United Church of Christ (the Green Church), 10 a.m., family Christmas service with lighting of candles, 10 a.m., Sunday

• Mexico: Congregational United Church of Christ (the Green Church), Candlelight and Carols Service, 11 p.m.

• Mexico: St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Christmas Eve Mass, 6 p.m., Sunday

• Rumford: St. Athanasius and St. John Catholic Church, Christmas Eve Mass, 7 p.m., Sunday

• Rumford: United Methodist Church, Christmas Eve candlelight service, 7 p.m., Sunday

• Rumford: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Christmas carols sing and candlelight service, 3:15 p.m.

• Rumford Point: Congregational Church, Christmas Eve service, 7 p.m.

Christmas Day:

• Rumford: St. Athanasius and St. John Catholic Church, Christmas Day Mass, 9:30 a.m.