December 21, 2005 8:30 PM
Churches closed on Christmas
Just wondering what you all have decided about church on Sunday.
I understand that some churches are closed because it's Christmas - which seems ironic.
I don't think it should be a legalistic thing - Lord knows, we have had home church many Sundays ourselves. There may be some families released to stay home and they should stay home, observing Christmas in whatever way they will. We have that freedom in Christ - after all, he did come to release us from the law. And our hearts should be in worship anytime, anywhere - at least that's what we're trying for.
But most of our family wants to go to church and so we will eat our special Christmas breakfast, then come home to open presents. Samantha and Kip and five our grandchildren will be over shortly after that and we will while away the hours, singing carols, doing jigsaw puzzles, watching It's a Wonderful Life, and ending up with Chinese carryout for 18 - down from our usual 25. (Jasmine and Nathan have decided to stay home - I did the same when I got up to a certain number of kids - and Matt says he is not ready to visit).
What about you?
Posted in Christmas, Church Issues, Current Affairs, Family | Permalink
Comments
We're having church as usual. We figure the crowd may be a little light, but it usually is on any holiday weekend. Most of the families with young children have commented that they are usually up by 6AM anyway on Christmas morning! (Church starts at 10AM). As someone who got saved on a holiday Sunday, I really hate to see churches close. People's hearts seem softer during this season. And, of course, God can reach anyone any time.
I notice you are reading "Secret Life of Bees." It has been a long time since I enjoyed a book as much as I did that one! It was a true pleasure to read. Enjoy!
Posted by: Lori F | December 22, 2005 12:17 AM
My husband will do 2 services Christmas Eve (we'll attend the early one), then our church will have a one-hour service on Sunday, devoted to singing Christmas carols, I think, and listening to special music. We'll be there, too, and then go home to open presents and eat. I think it will be a fine Christmas.
Posted by: Mel | December 22, 2005 1:59 AM
Lori - good observation - about people's hearts seeming softer. I know mine always was, though I didn't relly "get it" about Christmas until I was 38. I am so enjoying the Secret Life of Bees.
Mel - This reminds me of the sacrifices made my pastors' families. Thank you and may God make up the difference for you!
Posted by: barbaracurtis | December 22, 2005 2:45 AM
We will be going to church! Sunday school is at 9:00 and morning services at 10:00. Growing up, it just never has been an option to NOT go to church, partly because my dad is a pastor, partly because that's just the way we feel about it. Christmas on Sunday? All the more reason to be in God's house! Jesus came all the way from Heaven to give us "Christmas", so we can certainly spare a couple hours on this commercialized holiday to thank Him. I look at it as a "double-wammie." We have church on Sunday because that's the day Jesus rose from the dead. We celebrate Christmas, because that is the day that people have set aside to celebrate Jesus' coming to Earth.
Also, we live hours away from extended family, so we will have our family Christmas on Christmas Eve and spend Christmas Day with what we often refer to as our "Real Family," our brothers and sisters in Christ at church!
Posted by: Rach | December 22, 2005 8:46 AM
Our church typically has two services with Sunday School sandwiched between. For Christmas Day, they are canceling the early service and Sunday school, also the evening services, holding only late morning service.
I work in the tv department (taping and editing late morning services for air) and the main director (I'm assistant) has given me the day "off" to stay home with my family. My husband and I decided when we got married that for Christmas Day we wanted it to be a family day and stay at home. Unfortunately, the past two years, this has not been so easy. But we will be staying home in the morning for our own family celebration and time together.
I feel that closing or not closing on Christmas Day needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis. Smaller churches like one where my friend is pastor (average attendance: 6) may want to close while larger ones like mine may not.
Posted by: Valerie | December 22, 2005 12:37 PM
My husband is a youth pastor in Georgia, and so our immediate family, my daughter, my husband, and I will go out for a special Christmas Eve breakfast on Saturday morning before attending the two Christmas Eve services at our church in Georgia. We will then drive to Franklin, TN, where my dad is the senior pastor of a church,we will put Sophie to bed at my parents, and then my husband and I will attend the 11 pm service at my dad's church. His church is not having service on Sunday, and as a pastor's daugther and now youth pastor's wife, I am very grateful. My dad's church is quite large, and I know the many staff families are very glad to be able to spend the day with their family, rather than back at church, especially after attending an 11 pm service. I agree that there is not one right decision for all churches, but in this case, we will cherish the time to celebrate just as a family. We will then leave early on the 26th to fly to Tampa to go on a cruise with our extended family. The cruise is in celebration of my grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary. They have given my family a heritage of faith and love, and I feel so grateful to have the chance to celebrate both Christmas and their anniversary in such a special way.
Posted by: Carrie | December 22, 2005 2:58 PM
right on barbara! we will be at church christmas eve...(candlelight service) and christmas morning too. the only thing that will prevent us from attending would be the BIRTH OF OUR FIRST BORN CHILD. i was due last monday....so as you know....it's just gotta be any moment. i mean, one cannot be pregnant forever, can you? ;)
Posted by: Ruth | December 22, 2005 6:30 PM
I have to agree with Barbara. I think churches should be open on Christmas, I mean the whole reason we have Christmas is because of Jesus, right? The presents aren't going anywhere, and what better way to remind kids before they open their gifts that this holiday is not about them or the gifts. I was very disappointed when my church announced that we would not be having a service on Sunday, but Saturday instead. They first asked the leadership what we thought and we all agreed we would be there whenever, but then they gave the church a vote. The majority voted for a Saturday service instead. I have heard of several churches doing this in our area, taking a vote. I am interested to see how many of those people actually show up for the Saturday one.
Posted by: melanie | December 23, 2005 10:32 AM
Hey Barbara,
I had a talk with my mom about this about a week ago. She was shocked that this has become an issue. It is not the first time that church has been on a Sunday, it happens, what... every seven years give or take for leap year.
So why now, is it an issue and we figured it is because churches are being run more like businesses. It is not necessarily for the benifit of those who would come to worship. But because there are so many volunteers needed to run the production of church now-adays that it would be like requiring a vast number of people to come into "work" if church did not close. So the sad thing is, worship becomes more about what works for the "business" of church.. not about coming together as one large family of God to worship Christ on a very significant day. It really comes down in my mind to an alarming trend in the way "church" is done. I will be at church on Christmas Sunday and I will be serving in the nursury with my daughter.
Posted by: Wendy | December 23, 2005 3:10 PM
