No Church This Sunday—It's Christmas

[BlueStateSaint]

AYFKM?  This one is a . . . well, I'll let y'all decide.

No Church This Sunday—It's Christmas

This year's calendar presents an unusual challenge for worshipers.

By DAVID GIBSON

Every few years Christmas is on a Sunday and suddenly believers face a dilemma: Stay home hanging stockings and opening gifts, or upend those cherished domestic traditions and go to Sunday church services. That is, if their church is even open.

Nearly 10% of Protestant churches will be closed on Christmas Sunday this year, according to LifeWay Research, and most pastors who are opening up say they expect far fewer people than on other Sundays. Other reports suggest that churches across the board are scaling down their services in anticipation of fewer worshipers.

"We have to face the reality of families who don't want to struggle to get kids dressed and come to church," Brad Jernberg of Dallas's Cliff Temple Baptist Church told the Associated Baptist Press. Similarly, Beth Car Baptist Church in Halifax, Va., is planning a short service featuring bluegrass riffs on Christmas music. "I'll do a brief sermon, and then we're going home," said Pastor Mike Parnell.

Even in denominations organized around the liturgical calendar and sacramental worship, like the Catholic, Episcopal and Orthodox churches, kid-friendly Christmas Eve services (actually held in the late afternoon) are proliferating—the "Jingle Bell Mass," one Catholic priest dubbed them—while "Midnight Mass" is often a term of art, ending rather than starting at the stroke of midnight.

The rest of the article is here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204464404577112630659721286.html

We're going to have two Masses at 4 PM--one which the "Choristers," which is a children's choir, will do; the other will be in our church's Social Hall, cantored by a college freshman who is a former cantor here (she was brought up right by her parents, and it shows).  One at 6 or 6:30--I can't remember--which the Contemporary Choir will do, and one at 9 PM, which the Traditional Choir (the one I'm in) will do.  The usual three Masses tomorrow.

[Texacon]

I guess it depends on what importance you put on things BSS.  Myself .... I rank things thusly;

God

Family

Church

That is simply my opinion.  I can worship God without ever setting foot inside the building the church congregates at.

KC

[MrsSmith]

We usually have a huge Christmas Eve service, and the Sunday service Christmas week is always small.  I actually don't know if we're having services Christmas Day, I'll have to ask my husband when he wakes up. 

(I haven't gone to "our" church for weeks now, don't actually know what I'll do this weekend.  I've been angry for quite a while at the other members...they ended up letting a wonderful pastor go over a disagreement about buildings.  In my view, the church is the people, not the building.  I don't really care if someone's great grandparents provided half the money for the original 1890's building, or if someone else had gone to that same building all their lives.  The building is NOT the church.)

[Celtic Rose]

I'll be honest, I've never been to church on Christmas. 

[vesta111]

I'll be honest, I've never been to church on Christmas. 

11pm on Christmass eve, awoke the kids and in their Jammie's and winter coats went off to midnight mass.

Depending on the age of the kids some slept through it, other older kids were either alter boys and girls.

At the stroke of midnight Christmass eve the bells would ring, calling us into worship.   As we left the bells would ring out again.

Home to tuck the kids in bed and make merry under the Christmass tree.   Fine old tradition and come about 9 months later a new baby in the family.     What, no baby in September, then those born in October were New Years Baby's. 

I tease Hubby that all 7 born to his parents children  have a birthday in September or October.   

[DefiantSix]

My church is doing what they always do when Christmas observance falls on the Sabbath: we are having a communion service that'll run approximately 1 hour, and then dismiss to spend the rest of the day with family.  (I'm one of those Damned Mormons, so my normal Sunday schedule includes spending 3 hours at the church: communion/worship meeting, Sunday School, and Men's/Women's auxiliary meetings.)

For myself, personally, I really enjoy the Christmas holiday, and I get a lot of joy out of my weekly remembrance of the Savior and all he's done for me.  Combine the two together, and I'm damned near orgasmic with happiness.  (ummm, sorry; yeah, let me get something to clean that up...  )

[vesta111]

My church is doing what they always do when Christmas observance falls on the Sabbath: we are having a communion service that'll run approximately 1 hour, and then dismiss to spend the rest of the day with family.  (I'm one of those Damned Mormons, so my normal Sunday schedule includes spending 3 hours at the church: communion/worship meeting, Sunday School, and Men's/Women's auxiliary meetings.)

For myself, personally, I really enjoy the Christmas holiday, and I get a lot of joy out of my weekly remembrance of the Savior and all he's done for me.  Combine the two together, and I'm damned near orgasmic with happiness.  (ummm, sorry; yeah, let me get something to clean that up...  )

WTF is this damn Mormons, As I traveled about with my kids the Mormons were some of the first to welcome me to every new place we moved to.    Kind and good people, welcomed us knowing we were not going to convert but were ready to stand by us any way. 

What did we need, was there any way they could help, wonderful people.  Much they taught me and the kids on survival, from stock piling food just in case, to the help us fit in to a new environment and the traditions of those we lived among.   

Mormons taught me allot about survival, they knew I would not convert but they were some of the best teachers of how I was to raise 4 kids alone while Dad was out to sea for many months at a time.

In a way it was the Mormons that that helped me raise my kids alone, a military wife and kids are alone for much time.

They never came in and scared the kids with hell and damnation as some preachers did, never asked for a dime or gave me look other preachers did if I smoked a cigarette. 

I rank the Mormons at the top of my list as true Christians in their acts towards others.

Damn Mormons are fighting words in my life, I will kick the hell out of anyone that uses that phrase

[DefiantSix]

Vesta, I appreciate the sentiment, but I've learned to live by the adage:

The only one more foolish than the man who takes offense where no offense was intended, is the fool who takes offense WHERE IT IS INTENDED.

I hear people use that phrase, or variations of it very frequently, and if I were to jump on their case for the use of it every time I did, I'd get nothing else done in my day.  Most of the ones who say it around me don't know I'm a Damned Mormon, probably have never met a Damned Mormon who wasn't wearing a whit shirt & tie with a black name tag on the pocket, and couldn't tell you the 13 principle Articles of our Faith - or where they might disagree with them - if they were posted up on every billboard in town.  Ignorance alone, isn't sufficient cause for "shaking off the dust of your feet", so to speak.

[BlueStateSaint]

I guess it depends on what importance you put on things BSS.  Myself .... I rank things thusly;

God

Family

Church

That is simply my opinion.  I can worship God without ever setting foot inside the building the church congregates at.

KC

Agreed--and I do, every day, through my actions.

[longview]

I like going to church Christmas morning.  Sometimes it hasn't been available, either the pastor being gone, or not having one that can make it out to the church.  But, now living near town we can find a service.  I really enjoyed the one this year.  I appreciate talented people putting out the effort it takes to do good music.  And the message was great.

Kind of seems odd to not have a service Christmas day.

[Boudicca]

Vesta, I appreciate the sentiment, but I've learned to live by the adage:

I hear people use that phrase, or variations of it very frequently, and if I were to jump on their case for the use of it every time I did, I'd get nothing else done in my day.  Most of the ones who say it around me don't know I'm a Damned Mormon, probably have never met a Damned Mormon who wasn't wearing a whit shirt & tie with a black name tag on the pocket, and couldn't tell you the 13 principle Articles of our Faith - or where they might disagree with them - if they were posted up on every billboard in town.  Ignorance alone, isn't sufficient cause for "shaking off the dust of your feet", so to speak.

I don't agree with the door to door proselytizing, because I believe faith is a matter of individual conscience.  At least the Mormons I've told No, thanks, leave graciously.  I've literally had to slam the door on some of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Other than the missionaries, I've nothing but good things to say about the Church of Latter Day Saints.  I would have never discovered the mega amount of family history without their Family History Centers and the intensive help given to me by some very wonderful volunteers.  I did pay it forward once I learned the ropes, was constantly giving pointers and ideas to the dazed newbies wandering in to their local center for the first time.

[ExGeeEye]

Us Baptists went to church.

A lot of Baptist churches had combined morning services and no evening service.  Same for new years.

[terry]

I guess it depends on what importance you put on things BSS.  Myself .... I rank things thusly;

God

Family

Church

That is simply my opinion.  I can worship God without ever setting foot inside the building the church congregates at.

KC

You're post and some of the others here reminds me of a conversation I had with my mom when I was a teen.

  I said "Church just isn't that important to me.  I can worship God outside or wherever I am.  I don't really need Church.  I don't get anything out of it."   She said "It's not about what you get out of it, or about whether or not you think you need it.  It's not about what you get out of it, it's about what you bring to it.  It's not about whether you need the Church, it's about the Church needing you.  Going to Church and being an active participant in the Church is not just about you and God.  It's about you, the community of other members and God.  That community needs every member."

[jtyangel]

I'm Lutheran. A mid-morning service for Christmas is quite traditional. I haven't been in years. I let myself when things were crumbling with my ex slouch because of the sadness of not being able to go as a 'whole' family anymore. I didn't go this year, but God placed a very cool gift at my feet when I attended the service on Christmas Eve. We actually went to a bigger church close to home and ended up at the service provided by the startup church who uses facilities there while their church break ground. I got a treat in the most traditional ALCC type of Lutheran service I've been too--what that means is a Lutheran service that is traditional Lutheran in so much it still carries many of the elements of a Catholic mass including offering the hymns in Latin. I plan to go back to their weekly service to learn more.

[Texacon]

You're post and some of the others here reminds me of a conversation I had with my mom when I was a teen.

  I said "Church just isn't that important to me.  I can worship God outside or wherever I am.  I don't really need Church.  I don't get anything out of it."   She said "It's not about what you get out of it, or about whether or not you think you need it.  It's not about what you get out of it, it's about what you bring to it.  It's not about whether you need the Church, it's about the Church needing you.  Going to Church and being an active participant in the Church is not just about you and God.  It's about you, the community of other members and God.  That community needs every member."

I have no problem with that.  I was more getting to; I will not forsake my family for going to church.  I've seen far too many who will go to church rather than visit with family because they felt it was more important to be in that building.  I don't feel that way.  If someone is coming in to town that I haven't seen in some time and they are going to be there on Sunday .... well then the church is going to have to do without me.

KC

[terry]

I have no problem with that.  I was more getting to; I will not forsake my family for going to church.  I've seen far too many who will go to church rather than visit with family because they felt it was more important to be in that building.  I don't feel that way.  If someone is coming in to town that I haven't seen in some time and they are going to be there on Sunday .... well then the church is going to have to do without me.

KC

I understand.   Being in the building on any particular Sunday, even Christmas, is not the most important thing.  Some people just forsake the community part of it altogether.  Probably for lots of different reasons.  Some probably can't find a community that's a good fit. 

I think that's sort of unfortunate for the individual and for society in general.  I can see now that's not what you were talking about.

[Rugnuts]

my old church (whose membership has been dwindling) had it's Pastor move away.
they didnt even have a service on christmas/eve.

[Texacon]

Here's an example of what I was talking about.

I talked to a woman today who wants to come out Sunday to view a lot.  I asked her when she would like to come out and she said noon.

I asked her if she could come earlier and she said "why, do you have something scheduled?"  I said no but it is my only day off and I would like to keep from splitting it if possible so I can do something with my family.

She said "well I am going to the morning service so I can be there by 11:00 am if that helps you."

Now I don't mind helping this woman and I have her scheduled but what would be wrong with her missing her morning service so she can get here earlier and let me enjoy my time with my family?  I seriously don't think she would go to hell if she was killed in an accident on her way here to view a lot if she skipped church.  This would allow me a little time with my family.

Oh well, I'll hopefully get to spend some time with my family next weekend.

KC