PARIS — Longest Night and Blue Christmas Service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 34 Buckfield Road.

The weeks leading up to Christmas are filled with joy and celebration, but not everyone feels like celebrating. Grief, illness, aging, depression, loneliness, unemployment and loss are magnified. Those in recovery often find it a challenge to stay sober. Even those who are not struggling may find patience wearing thin with the stress of preparations and expectations around the season.

This service provides a time and place of quiet solace and peace on the longest night of the year, and a reminder that the light does return.

All are welcome to join in prayer, reflection, music and healing.

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FARMINGTON — The annual Service of Compassion and Hope at Christmas will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Fairbanks Union Church, 583 Fairbanks Road.

The service is sponsored by the Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry and is offered for persons who may find the Christmas season to be a difficult time because of a personal loss, illness or other difficulty.

The focus of the service will be a candle lighting ceremony in remembrance of others, or for hope for oneself or others. Leading the service will be the following local pastors: the Rev. David Smith of Wilton Congregational Church, the Rev. Alexis Fuller-Wright of Old South First Congregational Church and Jordan Shaw, a pastor for Trinity United Methodist Church.

The service is open to the public. In the event of inclement weather, an announcement will be made on WKTJ.

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PHILLIPS — There will be a Longest Night Vesper Service, known as a Blue Christmas Service, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Phillips Community Church.

Caroling at Shadagee Apartments will follow at about 6 p.m.

All are welcome.