Originally Posted By xrayvision XMAS falls on a Sunday this year, and my church has decided to cancel service on that day to observe the holiday. Isn't a Christian holiday best observed in church? We hold extra services to observe Easter Sunday. Thus, I think this is kinda funny and slightly ironic to lock the church doors on XMAS Sunday. I guess the holiday really has turned into a commercial event, with nothing really religious enough to bother opening the church doors. Is anyone else's church closed on that day?
Originally Posted By friendofdd Our church will have Christmas Day services. There is also a topic about this in W/E.
Originally Posted By xrayvision Thanks friend, I didn't see the W/E thread. I'm glad to hear that someone's church will be open on that day.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP We normally have three hours of meetings: a Sacrament Meeting (Eucarist and a sermon) and then 2 hours of Sunday School. We will only be have Sacrament meeting, but it will probably be a little long.
Originally Posted By dlkozy Mrs.ElderP-according to others in our ward the meeting is only supposed to be an hour.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP Our Choir director has actually got a choir this year and is having fun. I'll be in AZ this year, so will miss my own ward (congregation). I don't know the details. I get the feeling it will go long, but I don't know that it will.
Originally Posted By trailsend Mount Paran Church of God, Atlanta, GA will be having Christmas service on Christmas Day. You are all invited!!! Love, trailsend
Originally Posted By momof4boys We go to a relatively small ( 100 people) church in Oklahoma. We are having a service on Christmas Eve and a service on Christmas morning. The debate is what time to have the Christmas morning service. We usually have Sunday School at 9:30 and church at 10:30 but we are not having SS on Christmas morning. People without kids want to have Christmas morning service at 8:00am. People with kids want to have it a little later like 9:00am or 10:00 am.
Originally Posted By Elderp The letter we got from church headquarters said sacrament but it didn't say a shortened sacrament, which means it will be about an hour and 20 min.
Originally Posted By Blacksheep Uncle a Christian church closes to celebrate Christ's birthday...that HAS to be one of the oddest things I've ever heard seems like that's a little like a Hooters closing on Sunday so people can stay home and watch football... (OK I realise that is an odd sort of analogy, but home many times does one get to use a Hooters analogy when talking about a church ;D)
Originally Posted By FaMulan hehe, BU. The story linked in the WE topic alluded to the fact that in 1994, the last year Christmas fell on a Sunday, megachurches across the country saw a sharp decline in attendence due to the perception that Christmas is a 'day to be spent with family'. Way back when I was a 'practicing' Catholic my family went to Mass Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. Now, as an agnostic, I don't feel constrained to be inside a building to marvel at the wonder of the world and supernatural at any time of the year.
Originally Posted By ajsmommy our church has 4 christmas eve services and then on sunday they only have one service. It is a 10:45am.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney My mom asked me if our church would be holding a service on Christmas. I told her of course, that would be really weird to not have church on a day meant to celebrate the birth of Christ. I didn't know churches actually did that. Funny how attendence increases on Easter, but decreases on Christmas.
Originally Posted By LuLu I think attendance normally increases on Christmas - apparently not when it's a Sunday. Hmm, that seems even weirder! Our church normally has a Saturday evening and 2 Sunday services, which we'll still have over Christmas, plus an earlier service was added on Saturday.
Originally Posted By tapdancemom Portland Chrisian Center is having service on the 24th in the eveing and on Christmas morning as well.
Originally Posted By Deogges Mom My church will have three Christmas Eve services, which is normal for Christmas. On a normal Sunday there are two services, on Christmas and New Year's Day there will only be one service at 10:30. This is to allow our pastors time with their families, and for the congretation to enjoy Christmas morning with their families before church.
Originally Posted By RidgebackLuver We go to a baptist church in Vacaville, and we're having an hour long "family" service from 11-12. There's a special gift for each child attending, a reading of the Christmas story, and then an invitation to accept Him as your savior. Afterwards there will be light snacks and egg nog. We wanted to do it very laid back and homey so everyone would feel comfortable, yet still get the message!
Originally Posted By trailsend You know, after the thread about this topic in WE and here as well, I have noticed while driving all around Atlanta that all churches are showing services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. YAY!
