'Light comes into the darkness'

FINDLAY — The holidays can be a season of sadness and stress for some, and the role of a pastor includes supporting those in need. It's always a potentially hard time of year, but the Rev. Tucker O'Leary, senior pastor at First Lutheran Church, said he sees more people struggling this year, given the economy. "I would say that this year is very different" and it can be a challenge to get people in "a mindset of gratitude" when they are struggling with basic needs, he said. He noted that there are parallels to the Christmas story, such as the Holy Family being turned away from inns and struggling to meet their own needs. "But still — it's hard," he said. "It's hard when someone comes up and says, 'I'm struggling and all that I'm hearing is that, well, Jesus struggled like me, too. You know, that doesn't put food on my plate.' It might help the soul for a moment, but it's not food on the plate." As pastor of a downtown Findlay church, the Rev. John Drymon, rector at Trinity Episcopal Church, sees members of the community, not necessarily parishioners, stop in to talk about financial worries. And regular members of his congregation have experienced significant loss this year, including several who have lost their spouses. Drymon meets with some one on one. He noted that some churches have specific events like "Blue Christmas" services geared toward those who are grieving. This can be helpful, he said, but is not how he addresses the issue. "My approach, right or wrong, has always been that we ought not segregate the grieving from the joyous. And it is entirely appropriate to feel sad at a joyful celebration. And it is entirely appropriate to hold together grief and hope, and to all be in the same room together with all of those feelings, because that's what the body of Christ is," he said. "It's not our siloes with the grievers over here and the noisy children over here and the people who are just waiting to get home to finish their turkey over here. It's about all of us coming together and doing the thing, right? And holding us all up in the midst of that." The Rev. Dan Metzger, senior pastor at St. Marks United Methodist Church, said the holidays are hard for many in his congregation, especially those who are grieving a recent loss. His wife, Holly, leads the church's youth group. Each year, the couple identify five members of the congregation who may be especially hurting, and the youth visit these families' homes and sing Christmas carols. "So we just want people, especially those who are going through these hardest moments, to know, 'We love you, and God hasn't forgotten you,'" Metzger said. "And, I mean, that's also the story of Christmas, is that light comes into the darkness, right? And so, I know it might feel dark right now, but light's coming, and we're going to be a part of that light for you." O'Leary said sometimes people are hesitant to talk to him when they are having a difficult time in their life, but when they do, "I am thankful for them to be here." "I wish more people would take advantage of it," he said. "Yes, that would add more to my plate ... But it's tough when I can see that people are struggling emotionally and spiritually through things and whenever I ask them, they just say that 'I'm fine.'"