One week after the local newspaper in Croton Falls, NY reported on a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked New York at the bottom of the misery index, some strong, if not conclusive, evidence to the contrary emerged in this hamlet in northern Westchester County. The Revs. Richard Hasselbach and Barbara Jones-Hagedorn found themselves lonelier than they expected on Christmas Day, waiting for someone to attend a special “blue” Christmas service they created to cater to the unhappy and grieving.

“Well, either nobody is miserable or they found another place to be together and worship,” Hasselbach quipped, as he surveyed the empty pews at Croton Falls Presbyterian Church 20 minutes after the noon service was to start. “Next time, we’ll have to do this in a more miserable county.” Considering the recent survey, Hasselbach and Jones-Hagedorn thought they had a sure thing with the blue Christmas service.

“We have a sense that there are people who have a tough time during the holiday,” Hasselbach said. “They either could be older or alone, but they’re alone with all sorts of memories of a happier time, memories of people they’ve lost,” Hasselbach said. “This is a hard time for them, because the whole culture says ‘Ho ho ho, be merry,’ and they don’t feel that happiness in their hearts.”

Jones-Hagedorn, a retired minister, said her husband works at a Brewster homeless shelter and sees unhappiness in those who spend Christmas in the shelter. She herself has been ill, and finds the Christmas season bittersweet.

“I’m also struggling with one paralyzed vocal chord and an infection in my leg, and the best way to deal with something like that is to give; to give to someone else,” she said. “This was also for me, for my own healing.”