**Some Megachurches Closing for Christmas (12/7/05)**
Mege churches in Several Communities Shutting Down on Christmas Sunday, Anticipating Low Attendance
By RACHEL ZOLL AP Religion Writer The Associated Press
Dec 6, 2005 — This Christmas, no prayers will be said in several megachurches around the country. Even though the holiday falls this year on a Sunday, when churches normally host thousands for worship, pastors are canceling services, anticipating low attendance on what they call a family day.
Critics within the evangelical community, more accustomed to doing battle with department stores and public schools over keeping religion in Christmas, are stunned by the shutdown.
It is almost unheard of for a Christian church to cancel services on a Sunday, and opponents of the closures are accusing these congregations of bowing to secular culture....
Thanks all4one.
I saw that.
"Anticipating low attendance..."
What a load of hogwash.
When Christmas and Resurrection Sunday (some call this Easter) fall on Sunday; the churches are jammed packed and frankly overflowing.
Yes. (sigh) This is true. We are having worship services on Saturday this year with our church family. We have a very large membership.
I'm having a fellowship at the house though, with praise and worship and a dinner for a few folks without family in town.
I'm not aware that this decision was made for security reasons. I think it is for family time. We have a very large staff and lay ministry.
We do have tightened security at the church throughout the week and more so on Sundays. We have had threats in the past, but it may not have anything to do with WOT.
No, it isn't tinfoil in my mind.
TM 3863, should be the link to the story of the suitcase found on the Bay bridge, San Francisco.
I posted Sunday or monday about it, as it was on the KGO radio news, on the half hour. At first with "old Christmas stuff in it" the the last that I heard as "Electric Christmas lights" were in it.
Velveeta found an article that says it has a "stained glass
with candles ornament" in it.
It was in a suitcase left on the roadway of the Bay Bridge.
When I heard it was a stained glass and candle ornament, then to me it yelled out "Catholic Church".
Will the Feds catch the connection?
I really do think there is a connection, the only problem with it is "where"?????
I went to Willow Creek mega church once with a friend.
What a circus!
Very nice people, thousands of them!
I guess they're used to it and my friend was very proud of her affiliation and felt very comfortable there.
To me, it seemed strange that you have to register for tickets to get into your church.
And a gift shop at church (they call it a bookstore) was odd, IMO.
I did enjoy the services - kind of like going to a rock concert. LOL
Once was enough.