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Christmas on Sunday

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  • Christmas on Sunday

    Who is going?

    -----------

    Should we go to church on Christmas? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

    So there's been a lot of talk I've seen on Facebook about Christmas being on a Sunday this year. I do know a lot of churches are having Christmas Eve services, which is fairly common. I don't remember going to them growing up since my parents were the ones in charge and we always went to two different houses on Christmas Eve. I know my ex-wife and I didn't on our first Christmas Eve together, but we were also going on a deep drive through snow.

    Now this year, I do plan on going to my church for Christmas. I understand we're going to not have the regular Sunday School aspect, which is fine with me, but I plan on attending the service. There are some people who are thinking we shouldn't have church this year on Christmas because people will want to be with their families.

    Churches normally are open on Christmas day for a service and also people usually do want to spend Christmas with their families. Both of those make sense. Somehow, when Christmas falls on Sunday, it seems strange to some people to think you'd go to church.

    Which is kind of odd. We're only celebrating the birth of the Son of God into the world. It's strange to go to the very place where that is celebrated?

    However, we could also consider this a Romans 14 matter. Perhaps someone's family has non-Christians that will absolutely refuse to go to church at all and maybe one doesn't want to avoid any sort of drama. That would be up to each person to decide based on the kind of skeptic in their family they are dealing with. It could also be a great time to get someone to church so they can hopefully learn something more about the message of salvation.

    For me, I am going to church and my family is going to be celebrating on Eastern time. They will have to wait another hour likely for me then, but I don't think there will be much problem with that. I am staying in New Orleans for Christmas and we have said we are going to use our Echo devices so we can see each other and open gifts that way.

    If we treat this as a Romans 14 matter, then we should also say that each person should be fully convinced in his own mind. For me, the idea of missing church doesn't really make sense, but at the same time, I don't want to look down my nose at someone who is missing. It would be horrible to be celebrating the birth of Christ while practicing the sin of satan after all.

    People will be discussing their reasons back and forth for what they do and there are many factors to consider. Again, let each be fully convinced in his own mind. For me, I am going to be going to my service that day and the gifts, God willing, will still be waiting for me when I get home and the family will still be there. They'll do just fine.

    In Christ,
    Nick Peters
    (And I affirm the virgin birth)
    Should we go to church on Christmas? Let’s plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out. So there’s been a lot of talk I’ve seen on Facebook about Christmas being on a Sunday this year. I do know a lot of churches are having Christmas Eve services, which is fairly common. I don’t remember going … Continue reading Christmas on Sunday

  • #2
    Weather permitting, we're having a Royal Hours service Friday morning, a vigil service Saturday evening, and liturgy Sunday morning. Looks like snow is coming Thursday and Friday.
    Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

    Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
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    • #3
      My church is doing their Christmas service on Saturday the 24th and no services on Sunday. I have no issues with that. Since except for the pastor and his wife, the worship team is almost all parents of young children so I can see how this would be hard on their families.
      "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

      "Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

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      • #4
        On a related note, what do we think about churches closing due to severe bad weather? I just notified that today's service, December 24, is cancelled. We're having low temperatures with a wind chill that goes to 0F or lower. I doubt we would have gone anyways but I want to see what others think.
        "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

        "Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View Post
          On a related note, what do we think about churches closing due to severe bad weather? I just notified that today's service, December 24, is cancelled. We're having low temperatures with a wind chill that goes to 0F or lower. I doubt we would have gone anyways but I want to see what others think.
          I don't see it as theologically problematic. If it's not safe, it's not safe. Perhaps in a digital age, especially post-covid, churches should anticipate this and prepare to stream.
          "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

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          • #6
            Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post

            I don't see it as theologically problematic. If it's not safe, it's not safe. Perhaps in a digital age, especially post-covid, churches should anticipate this and prepare to stream.
            Good point. I will point out that streaming a service still requires the staff to reach the church.

            I think many churches now stream. They may need to up their game some.
            "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

            "Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

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            • #7
              Well, it's Sunday. And today is Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

              I'm always still in trouble again

              "You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
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              "Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman

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              • #8
                Merry Christmas!
                If it weren't for the Resurrection of Jesus, we'd all be in DEEP TROUBLE!

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                • #9
                  Merry Christmas!

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                  • #10
                    We're having a candlelight service this morning. My wife and I will be attending. Yes. It's Christ-Mass, there should be a service!
                    "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

                    "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

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