The Church of Sweden: People need fellowship to be able to live 

During the Christmas season, the Church of Sweden usually works to offer a place for the lonely and needy.

This year is a different year but the churches will be open as usual.  

- We continue to work for community and to try to break the loneliness, says Andreas Holmberg.  

The business is analogous, but the digital church doors are also open.  

- Many churches have extended opening hours because there are so many who want to come in for a while.

But we are also available digitally, so we can take part in the music we associate with Christmas and Advent, says Andreas Holmberg.  

The church has noticed an increase in people who get in touch and are worried throughout the pandemic, but even more so now that the spread of infection is escalating.  

No ordinary service

If the eight-limit remains, there will be no regular services during Christmas.  

- You can come up with it over and over again.

Many of the churches are large, so people can come and go in an infectious way, says Anders Holmberg.

Important to keep open

The City Mission, which has long worked to counteract loneliness during Christmas, also notices that many are worried about the upcoming holiday. 

- We see increased mental illness and more people in loneliness.

The social arena many had is no longer there.

This applies to the elderly, the lonely and the homeless.

That is why it is so important that we and other organizations actually stay open, says Stina Kelly von Essen, Head of Social Affairs, City Mission.  

Among other things, the organization makes home visits to the elderly who do not get out, for fear of spreading the infection.  

- We can bring a lunch box, or a Christmas plate, but we also call and talk.

We see that human contact is very important, says Stina Kelly von Essen.

In the Church of Sweden, the slogan is that they should not cancel, but adjust.  

- Many associate the Church of Sweden with presence, openness, hope and community.

There are a variety of examples of how we are changing now to continue to offer presence, openness and hope, which we all so desperately need, says Anders Holmberg.