Nov 19, 2012 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time, but for some people still grieving, the festive parties, carols and presents only serve as a cruel reminder of the loved ones who are no longer here.

For those families, a chair around the Christmas dinner table will be empty. And an empty chair will be displayed at Greene Community Church, 653 E. High St., Waynesburg, where the seventh annual “Empty Chair at Christmas” service will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 10.

“We all tend to notice that ’empty chair’ at the table a little more visibly during this time. The service includes a candlelight portion and the reading of the names,” said Cherie Rumskey, a victim’s advocate for the Greene County district attorney’s office.

“We encourage attendants to bring a picture of their loved ones for the ‘Memory Board.’ We are also pleased to announce that Lisa Pazzynski and the Waynesburg University Lamplighters will provide the musical entertainment for the evening,” Rumskey said.

This year’s service is being officiated by the Rev. Donald P. Wilson and David Crowe, pastor of Greene Community Church.

The service has been organized with the assistance of Sandy Seybold, whose son, Chad, died in 2004 from injuries sustained in an alcohol-related crash; Carol Furmanek, whose daughter was murdered as a result of domestic violence; and the Greene County district attorney’s office and the Victim/Witness Assistance Program.

As she has done every year of the Empty Chair, Seybold has made ornaments to be distributed to all attending the event.

The Empty Chair at Christmas service is a warm, uplifting program intended to offer comfort and a sense of belonging for anyone missing a loved one. Following the service, everyone is invited to share in refreshments in the church social hall.

For more information, call Rumskey at the Victim/Witness Assistance Program at 724-852-5229.