Hot Damn! all along I thought that churches were in the business that concerns Christmas.
There is no justification for churches being closed on Christmas day and the local nude bar being open for a booming business.
All the more reason NOT to accommodate it.
Our Protestant, Mega-Church in Houston is having a 4PM service at the Toyota Center on Christmas Eve. We expect a large crowd and everyone in the city is invited. Clay Walker and Yolanda Adams will be participating in Worship with us.
Music starts at 3:15 and the service at 4:00.
We will also have an 11:00 AM service on Christmas.
The pastor and leadership of the local church are the ones who know better than any of us - especially those of 30 miles away or greater - as to whether having a Sunday service on Christmas day is good for their church or not. The article rightly points out that Jesus lambasted the religious icons of his time for their emphasis upon holidays and self-righteous acts, why? Because we as humans tend to institutionalize our faith (and kill it).
My church is just cancelling Sunday School next week.
We're having services on Christmas Eve (evening) and Christmas morning (non-denominational evangelical church), but I certainly won't and cannot condemn any other churches who choose to close on Christmas. Their choice.
I know of one church that normally has three services on saturday night and three on Sunday morning. They are doing six services on Christmas eve and five on Christmas day. They can seat just over 1,000 in each service.
All Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches will have liturgies on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
To further the debate, would these churches be open on Christmas for a Christmas worship if it were on Monday? Ours has always had a Christmas Day service.
This seems like a good thread to post the news that Pastor Rick Warren is NOT closing Saddleback on Christmas Day. There will be a service.
Just had to get that in.
Uh-huh Pastor Weece. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuurrreeeee.
I saw this in my son's church yesterday.
http://www.celebrationchurchtx.com/videos/no-service-on-christmas-web.wmv
I just sent an email bashing this moron.
It is extremely sad that the modern church somehow decides that the Ten Commandments don't matter, that since it is Christmas, we don't need to keep the Sabbath Day and make it holy.
Instead, we are to sit at home and open presents!
No worship of the King whose birth we celebrate.
Just sick.
I hate the modern American church. The sad thing is, thte evangelicals are often just as bad as the liberals.
I'll be at the 8:00 service with my family, and will happily host anyone who wishes to join us.
In my area, it is the liberal United Churches (4 of the 5 in my area) that are closing on Christmas Day (and New Year's Day). Most of the others are at least having one service on those days...
BTW, this is up in Canada where such is taking place.
IMHO, let the pastor knock himself out. If He sincerely belives His works for the Lord are better served in canceling a service, then more power to him.
From my perspective, if I were a pastor-teacher, I don't know of many other grander opportunities to witness about Christ to believer and unbeliever alike than on Christmas Morn.
Would a church close its doors on Easter Sunday?
I think not! Nor should it close on Christmas Day.
I agree with the first pastor quoted.
I wish we celebrated CHristmas in January!
The longer this thread goes the more interesting it becomes.
There is much to be gleaned ( and learned) from reading it!