Yellowknife (Dec 10/04) - Despite its glistening appearance, for some Christmas isn't all holly, jolly and full of happiness.

Hidden behind the gaiety of the season are people suffering -- from grief, loss and loneliness.

Reverend Liz Richards opens the doors of the Yellowknife United Church every year for those people, during the service of comfort.

After losing two loved ones in her own life in recent years, she knows how painful the holiday season can be.

"It can be very helpful to be part of the community, in my own experience of grief," she said recently.

"Christmas is hard because of the cultural emphasis on a facade of happiness and the emphasis on family," said Richards.

The church has offered the service for a number of years. Each year, it attracts a small crowd of people who have lost family members, experienced relationship breakups or are lonely, according to Richards.

Barb Paquin is the chair of the worship committee helping organize the event. The church offers the service because no one else does, she said.

"There are people who aren't feeling the joy of the Christmas season like you're supposed to," she said.

Many of the patrons who have come in other years aren't affiliated with the United Church either, and that's fine, said Paquin.

The service of comfort will be held at the church Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Instead of a sermon, there will be a circle of worship.

The symbolic lighting of candles to acknowledge a healing path is an important part of the evening, said Richards.

Prayers, hymns and Christmas carols are also included. Richards finds the most expressive part of the evening to be afterward, when everyone gathers over refreshments to talk.