I recently read an article which described how a major congregation was going to cancel Sunday morning worship this weekend. The reason? It will be Christmas morning. The church leadership does not expect that the congregation will attend on Christmas morning.
This set me reflecting. I can certainly appreciate that many Christians have obligations or family dynamics that simply make it unworkable to attend worship on Christmas morning. For many Christians, this may even be a source of mild disappointment. So, I'm not interested in taking cheap shots at them by suggesting that they are failing to "keep Christ in Christmas" or capitulating to secular culture. I am sure that they will find ways to honor Christ on Christmas, just as we all do whenever Christmas falls on a weekday (which is often).
Still, I am very glad that my church will be gathering for worship on Christmas morning. There are several reasons for this. The most important to me is that it gives me the opportunity to put the adoration of the Christ Child right at the center of Christmas Day. Amidst all of the gifts that will be opened on Christmas day, the gift of Jesus is the most precious one -- a gift from God. The Child is God's gift of life and hope to me, to my loved ones, and to the whole world. Worship on Christmas morning is like taking the time to open up God's gift and really appreciating it. For me, it puts all the presents under the tree into the right perspective. They are signs of the joy we feel for the gift of Christ.
Next, I find that worshiping on Christmas day is a way for me to teach my children (and remind myself) that Christ is the One who makes all of life significant. By taking the time and making the effort to go to church on a holiday as big as Christmas, I send a message to my children that Christ is Lord. We can treat Him as such at all times, even at Christmas. In our experience, Santa is perfectly fine with this. Santa respects our priorities. Santa never claims to be Lord, rather he seems to wish us an all the merrier Christmas when we worship.
Lastly, I deeply appreciate gathering with my Christian brothers and sisters on Christmas morning. It is a joy to see their smiling faces, to hear them sing, and to exchange wishes for a Merry Christmas. By gathering in the sanctuary, we reenact how Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds gathered around the newborn Christ. As wonderful as it is to be with our own family on Christmas, Christ invites us into a larger family -- the family of God. The divine family extends all over our neighborhoods, across our nation, and throughout the world. When we gather together on Christmas, we get a glimpse of Christ's family. We are reminded that along with Christ, God gives us the gift of being part of a spiritual family.
This year, Christmas falls on a Sunday. I am glad that it does. The last time this happened was in 2016. It will happen again in 2033. So, it does not happen often. When it does, we have a precious opportunity to gather together to welcome and worship Christ on the day of his arrival along with all those who celebrate him.
Should I go to church on Christmas?
I recently read an article which described how a major congregation was going to cancel Sunday morning worship this weekend. The reason? It will be Christmas morning. The church leadership does not expect that the congregation will attend on Christmas morning.
This set me reflecting. I can certainly appreciate that many Christians have obligations or family dynamics that simply make it unworkable to attend worship on Christmas morning. For many Christians, this may even be a source of mild disappointment. So, I'm not interested in taking cheap shots at them by suggesting that they are failing to "keep Christ in Christmas" or capitulating to secular culture. I am sure that they will find ways to honor Christ on Christmas, just as we all do whenever Christmas falls on a weekday (which is often).
Still, I am very glad that my church will be gathering for worship on Christmas morning. There are several reasons for this. The most important to me is that it gives me the opportunity to put the adoration of the Christ Child right at the center of Christmas Day. Amidst all of the gifts that will be opened on Christmas day, the gift of Jesus is the most precious one -- a gift from God. The Child is God's gift of life and hope to me, to my loved ones, and to the whole world. Worship on Christmas morning is like taking the time to open up God's gift and really appreciating it. For me, it puts all the presents under the tree into the right perspective. They are signs of the joy we feel for the gift of Christ.
Next, I find that worshiping on Christmas day is a way for me to teach my children (and remind myself) that Christ is the One who makes all of life significant. By taking the time and making the effort to go to church on a holiday as big as Christmas, I send a message to my children that Christ is Lord. We can treat Him as such at all times, even at Christmas. In our experience, Santa is perfectly fine with this. Santa respects our priorities. Santa never claims to be Lord, rather he seems to wish us an all the merrier Christmas when we worship.
Lastly, I deeply appreciate gathering with my Christian brothers and sisters on Christmas morning. It is a joy to see their smiling faces, to hear them sing, and to exchange wishes for a Merry Christmas. By gathering in the sanctuary, we reenact how Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds gathered around the newborn Christ. As wonderful as it is to be with our own family on Christmas, Christ invites us into a larger family -- the family of God. The divine family extends all over our neighborhoods, across our nation, and throughout the world. When we gather together on Christmas, we get a glimpse of Christ's family. We are reminded that along with Christ, God gives us the gift of being part of a spiritual family.
This year, Christmas falls on a Sunday. I am glad that it does. The last time this happened was in 2016. It will happen again in 2033. So, it does not happen often. When it does, we have a precious opportunity to gather together to welcome and worship Christ on the day of his arrival along with all those who celebrate him.