Biggirl wrote: “issues in regards to SAFETY towards parishoners and visitors” — Is the reason for our congregation having its Christmas eve service at 7:30 pm. Many older members cannot drive at night, thus are picked up and brought to the service by others in the congregation. Thus not having the traditional “midnight service” (which usually began at 11pm) was moved earlier to where it could be celebrated by the majority of the congregation and not just those who are able to drive at night, especially with the traffic here in DC.
My parish did the midnight mass at 10PM, it would begin with Christmas carols done 30 minutes before.