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    Is Your Church Open on Christmas?

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    Many large churches have decided to not have services on Christmas Sunday morning:
    Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL)
    Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX)
    Southland Christian Church (Lexington, KY)
    Mars Hills Bible Church (Grandville, MI)
    North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA)

    All of these churches have decided to hold multiple Christmas Eve services instead.

    Of course... there's controversy; as stated in this article from Kentucky.com:

    Megachurch officials around the country consulted with each other before deciding to take the day off.

    The decision makes sense in today's hectic world, said Willow Creek spokeswoman Cally Parkinson. "It's more than being family-friendly. It's being lifestyle-friendly for people who are just very, very busy," she said.

    Many evangelical churches don't hold Christmas day services, except when the holiday falls on a Sunday.

    For some evangelicals, it's the day of the week -- not the day of the year -- that's sacred. To them, closing the doors of the church on the Lord's Day is unthinkable.

    Others, troubled by the holiday's increasingly secular tone, lament the change.

    While admiring the emphasis on family, Fuller Theological Seminary professor Robert K. Johnston worries that another Christian tradition is fading. Fuller, in Pasadena, Calif., is one of the nation's premier evangelical schools.

    "What's going on here is a redefinition of Christmas as a time of family celebration rather than as a time of the community faithful celebrating the birth of the savior," said Johnston, a professor of theology and culture. "There is a risk that we will lose one more of our Christian rituals, one that's at the heart of our faith."

    At Southland, the decision hasn't generated much controversy. "We've probably had maybe half a dozen (complaints), which is understandable," said church spokeswoman Cindy Willison. Southland members are encouraged to attend one of three Christmas Eve services instead. A Dec. 23 service has also been added.

    Willison says attendance dropped significantly the last time Christmas fell on a Sunday, in 1994. Her church's decision was made "based on analysis of the number of people who attended in previous years and just a desire for us to emphasize family time on Christmas Day," she said.

    "It's not anything unique to us," she said.

    At least one other major Lexington congregation, Crossroads Christian Church, will close for Christmas.

    Crossroads Pastor Glenn Schneiders says Dec. 25 is no longer considered sacred by many Americans -- especially those who are not regular churchgoers. "It's viewed more as a holiday than a holy day," he said.

    The unchurched are more reachable on Dec. 24, said Schneiders, who leads a church with average weekend attendance of 1,900 people.

    "Studies would say the best opportunity to invite people is Christmas Eve. It's, for whatever reason, the least threatening service of the year to attend ... so what we do is really point all of our energy in that direction," Schneiders said. "We don't think we're compromising. We're actually reaching more people by doing that."

    Lexington Theological Seminary professor Bill Turner says it's difficult for some congregations to hold multiple Christmas Eve services and then return the following day.

    "You're talking about a lot of volunteers and a lot of logistics to make Sunday happen in a lot of those megachurches," he said. By the end of Saturday's services, "you're pretty well wrung out."

    Some churches are scaling down their Sunday schedule on Christmas.

    At Louisville's Southeast Christian Church, where 18,000 people worship each weekend, they'll have one service on Christmas in the fellowship hall. Fewer than 1,000 people are expected to attend.

    Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, where 1,650 people typically worship, will also have one service on Christmas.

    "We want to be here to worship Christ on his birthday," pastor Bill Henard said.

    At a time when some corporations and government agencies are shying away from even using the word "Christmas," Henard said, "We want the world to know that it's okay to celebrate Christ."

    Meanwhile, Roman Catholics will be as busy as ever, Lexington diocesan spokesman Tom Shaughnessy said. "It's a holy day of obligation, which means for the faithful, Mass attendance is required."

    At First United Methodist Church in Lexington, the pastor will perform a "blessing of the toys," and the congregation will sing Christmas carols, church spokeswoman Marsha Berry said.

    "Even if there's a small group ... we'll be there to worship," she said. "What better day than Christmas to experience God?"

    What do you think?

    It only happens once a decade or so… Christmas Day actually falling on a Sunday.  If you and your staff are like many, you had to determine what your schedule of services would be this Christmas weekend…

    Comments

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    1. Evangelist Jeff on Sun, December 04, 2005

      Yep… Doors will be open for two morning services 8:30 and 11:00. There will not be an Evening service.

    2. Bill on Sun, December 04, 2005

      Why do these churches choose to take not only a Sunday off - but also the very day we are celebrating the birth of our Redeemer, our Savior, the One in whom we must put our trust for eternal life? It seems the One proclaimed by many of these churches to be the center of their focus must on this day take a back seat to family, festivities, presents, tradition, etc…

      I’m reminded of the scripture where we are told “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30. What a thing to close down corporate worship service for such a large church on such an important day in our faith.


      My thoughts,


      In Christ,


      Bill

       

    3. Peter Hamm on Mon, December 05, 2005

      At our church, we’re doing two Christmas Eve services but none on Christmas. I can get along with the decision, but I’m not sure I’m crazy about it. Part of me really agrees with Bill on this.

      That said, churches I’ve served in in the past couple decades have had lousy attendance at Christmas services regardless of the day of the week. Christmas eve is MUCH more attended, and since that is the celebration of the Savior’s birth, I can live with it. (Maybe on Sunday this year I’ll visit someone else’s church who IS open on Christmas… or maybe I’ll sleep in, as I’ll be exhausted from hours of playing/singing/worshipping the night before!


      Peter

       

    4. Dean on Mon, December 05, 2005

      So let me see if I understand this right… 

      Some congregational leaders have assessed that since fewer people attend the Christmas Day gathering that it’s not worth it to convene for those who desire to?  Talk about market driven decisions.  What about the two or three who would like to gather in their Lord’s name at their customary house of worship?  I’m no organized church fan, but that just seems like a copout for congregational leaders who would like the time off to be with their families.


      Lest I be misunderstood, I applaud the priority of family celebration, but at least be honest and say it up front.  And keep the house of worship open for those who want to gather anyway.  There’s probably someone in the flock who would be glad to conduct the service of worship.  If the experience of the gathering were richer and warmer rather than smoother and slicker, I don’t think this conversation would be taking place.

    5. Ben E. on Mon, December 05, 2005

      We’ll have our morning service from 10-11 am (usual is 10:45 to 12pm) and no Sunday School but folks will be encouraged to gather and do the fellowship thing.


      No evening services.


      The strange part for me will be Christmas Eve.  I’m use to that being a big deal at most churches but here it isn’t or it hasn’t for such a long time that very few attend it.


      Honestly, being the only staff member at this time, I think I could call it off (Christmas Eve) and it wouldn’t be a big deal to most…but I just can’t do that. 

      It’s such a beautiful time to come together and meditate, celebrate and worship. I WANT to be together with both my immediate and church family


      As for Christmas, to me, if there’s a time for the Body of Christ to WANT to come together and celebrate, it would be Christmas Day on a Sunday morning.


      Ben E.

       

    6. Kevin on Mon, December 05, 2005

      OK if people don’t like it then go to churches that don’t do this.  I think its a great idea myself.  Why judge a church’s motives.  For the record, Northpoint doesn’t have any services the last week of the year regardless of what day Christmas falls on.

    7. Rev. Scott D. Hughey on Mon, December 05, 2005

      We are having church services on Sunday morning.  We have moved the time up; from 11:00 to 10:00.  I am anticipating a small group, but a great time of worship.  I can’t wait!

    8. RevJay on Mon, December 05, 2005

      I guess it’s what the congregation wants to do, spend more time with Santa and less with the Saviour. After all, Christmas IS the day of the “Reason for the season” Isn’t it? Here we are having a 10AM Christmas day worship and celebration of the Saviour’s birth but we are foregoing the Sunday school hour and the evening service. The Church Christmas Cantata is on the 18th and is open to everyone (as it should be). Christmas Eve is a great time for fellowship and worship also, but I find that many of the people here spend that time with family and children opening up presents and having fun as families.

    9. Pastor Al on Mon, December 05, 2005

      We will have 3 Christmas Eve services and no Sunday Morning services.  Fine by me… allowes us some quality time with our family.  We will have our own home church with songs and scripture and praise, kind of like Mary and Joseph had that first Christmas Morning. In fact I am looking forward to it!


      Blessings to all and Merry Christmas!


      Pastor Al

    10. Brian La Croix on Mon, December 05, 2005

      RevJay,

      I see your point, but don’t see how closing the door on Christmas is spending “more time with Santa and less with the Savior.”


      Is a worship service the only place we can spend time with the Savior?  What about family worship?  Can this not be done on Christmas instead of a church service?


      For the record, we are having church on Christmas, and expecting a small crowd.  And I will not be making any comments from the pulpit about the “lazy” or “uncommitted” ones who stayed home.

       

      But if we were not having service, we wouldn’t be spending time with Santa, since no-one in my family believes in him (and never has, except for me when I was a kid growing up in a non-Christian home).


      Yes, we would enjoy the gifts, maybe even sleep in a bit (and what pastor wouldn’t want that option if it was available?), and eat.  We would be reading the Christmas story and spending time in prayer as a family.


      Is not worship to revel in the goodness of God to provide the funds for the gifts and food?


      I think we need to be careful that we are not assigning not only motives but also actions as being less godly because they don’t fit in our traditional view of things.

       

      Brian

       

    11. PK on Mon, December 05, 2005

      Amazing, the holy controversy!  Our little church will worship in song, Scripture, prayer, and a word of joy.  Then we will get on with a birthday party for Jesus.  It is our hope that some of the neighborhood families and kids (perhaps some in a giftless Christmas) will come and be blessed with Good News and good stuff.

    12. Brian La Croix on Mon, December 05, 2005

      PK,

      Awesome!


      Why didn’t we think of that?


      Maybe it’s not too late - I’ll talk to the board about that.


      I’d like to know more about what you’ve got planned!

       

      Brian

       

    13. sid on Mon, December 05, 2005

      We will do 5 services on Christmas Eve and come back and do 5 services on Christmas day. Will I be completly exhausted? YES


      Would I do it any other way? NO


      I love the joy of sharing Christmas Eve with the faithful and those seeking faith. But Sunday is the time of worship and joy that will only be enhanced becuase it is also Christmas Day.


      Call us crazy if you will, but as far as I know worship is not about us, but rather about God and that is what I want to focus upon.

    14. Pastor James D. Cencebaugh on Mon, December 05, 2005

      I simply don’t get it?  Next thing you know we’ll be canceling Easter services.  I don’t see the difference in the holidays.  They are both equally significant, aren’t they?  We’re having church on Christmas day… yep, even if on 1/3 of the church shows up (I think it’ll at least be half).  At least it will be meaningful for those who do desire to attend.

    15. Pastor Al on Mon, December 05, 2005

      “I simply don’t get it? Next thing you know we’ll be canceling Easter services.”


      Don’t give us any ideas!!!

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