Evaqngelical Churches will close on Christmas...

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carol marie:
Very true.

But I think it’s all that other stuff (food court - coffee bars - flashing lights - worship bands - dramas etc.) that attracts & keeps a certain type of person going to those mega churches.
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It seems to me that they aren’t going to “worship” or “church” then - they are going to a “show.” Doesn’t this sound like the Super Bowl, or a rock concert, or something similar? Guess I don’t get it.
 
Sometimes when I walk into an evangelical church, I can’t tell what I’m standing in. Is it a warehouse, a theater, a gymnasium, a lodge, a community center, or what?

But when you step into a Catholic Church you have no doubt as to where you are. You are standing in the very midst of Almighty God!

Before I came home to the Catholic Church, I noticed that the air almost seemed heavier inside the walls of a Catholic Church as opposed to any other. I also felt automatically compelled to quiet and humble myself. Now I know why, it’s because of the “real presence”.

I pray that the Catholic Church holds fast to her traditions and traditional architecture. It truly does represent, “Heaven on Earth”.
 
In a sad sort of way, it makes sense. Without the Eucharistic sacrifice, there is nothing you do at an “non-denominational” Evangelical church (sing, pray, read/discuss the Scriptures) that you can’t do at home. Attending even the humblest Mass is worlds apart.

There’s a common saying in business that if you want to know how vital something is, stop doing it for a while. If it’s not missed, it’s not vital, and you should probably get rid of it.
 
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Fidelis:
In a sad sort of way, it makes sense. Without the Eucharistic sacrifice, there is nothing you do at an “non-denominational” Evangelical church (sing, pray, read/discuss the Scriptures) that you can’t do at home. Attending even the humblest Mass is worlds apart.

There’s a common saying in business that if you want to know how vital something is, stop doing it for a while. If it’s not missed, it’s not vital, and you should probably get rid of it.
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Excellent point you make here on the Eucharistic sacrifice. There is no substitute for attending Liturgy.
 
Well, it looks like the mega-churches’ great witness for Christ has received the attention of *The New York Times * on its front page this morning: “When Christmas Falls on Sunday, Megachurches Take the Day Off.” You have to hand it to the Catholic Church: she seems to care less about honoring man’s desires and more about honoring God.
 
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WhatMeWorry:
It seems to me that they aren’t going to “worship” or “church” then - they are going to a “show.” Doesn’t this sound like the Super Bowl, or a rock concert, or something similar? Guess I don’t get it.
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I don’t get it either… when my husband & I visited Willow Creek we were told that they STRONGLY SUGGEST that we leave our infant in the care of a stranger in their nursery… small children & babies are NOT WELCOME in the main auditorium because many people travel a great distance for the “service” and don’t want their experience interrupted. How funny that we’re told the SAME THING when we go to Chicago to see a Broadway Show. :rolleyes:
 
carol marie:
I don’t get it either… when my husband & I visited Willow Creek we were told that they STRONGLY SUGGEST that we leave our infant in the care of a stranger in their nursery… small children & babies are NOT WELCOME in the main auditorium because many people travel a great distance for the “service” and don’t want their experience interrupted. How funny that we’re told the SAME THING when we go to Chicago to see a Broadway Show. :rolleyes:
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Would Christ strongly suggest that we segregate our children from His word? I don’t think so. :nope: How very sad they they view children as an interruption.
 
carol marie:
According to the article, **they want people to have a “personal” experience on that day **- rather than filling the pews (and what… worshiping Jesus?)
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We all know that church leaders think there is nothing more important than attending church. So this explanation, taken at face value, doesn’t sound quite right to me.

Is there more to the story? Is it a financial decision?

A poor but truthful explanation for closing the doors on Christmas would be better than “We want people to have a ‘personal’ experience on that day”.
 
Well, if you don’t have Mass, why would it be necessary to open your church for Christ Mass?

😃
 
carol marie:
I don’t get it either… when my husband & I visited Willow Creek we were told that they STRONGLY SUGGEST that we leave our infant in the care of . . . .
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Just curious, what’s a Willow Creek??

At our local Catholic Churches, we have “family rooms”. One of our Priests strongly recommends that parents not use the room. He likes to see the families together in the pews.

Pretty cool, huh?
 
Indeed, do you think Christ got upset when babies were crying while he taught the crowds?

I love to see people bringing their kids as well.
 
mark a:
Just curious, what’s a Willow Creek??QUOTE]
It is the name of the corporate headquarters that oversees most mega-churches in this country and some abroad–located in Illinois.
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I would be careful how far one takes this…

Col 2:16

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:
 
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Shibboleth:
I would be careful how far one takes this…

Col 2:16

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:
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Are you suggesting that we shouldn’t think it odd that a Christian Church would not be holding services on a Sunday? (not to mention that it’s Christmas Sunday… the birth of our Savior whom we celebrate)

Because God said “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy.” And in the NT we are told to “not forsake the gathering of ourselves together.”

Christmas falls on a Sunday approx. every 11 years. This is not a new thing… but yet this is the first year I’ve heard of Christian Churches not having services. Do you think God has issued some sort of Christmas - don’t bother going to Church even though it’s Sunday - waver? Or is it MORE likely that some people have taken the attitude of “what’s in it for me?” and having church / going to church on Christmas morning really gets in the way of the socializing & present opening? Not to mention that, as it was discussed - no one wants to man the coffee bar/ food court on the holiday?
 
mark a:
Just curious, what’s a Willow Creek??
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It’s like the Mother - Ship of Mega Chruches.

Thousands attend on the weekends. The place is HUGE HUGE HUGE and they seem to be always adding on. They have a large food court area & coffee bar & book / gift shops. We visited twice before we became Catholic and there wasn’t any communion both times. It’s a “seeker friendly” place in that they try to say NOTHING that might offend someone who knows nothing about God. There is a big worship band - lots of special effects w/ lighting - dramas - etc. I personally have several former - Catholic friends who go there. They all say the same thing… “I never GOT anything out of mass.” As if receieving Jesus isn’t enough? 😦
 
carol marie said:
“I never GOT anything out of mass.” As if receieving Jesus isn’t enough? 😦
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Yeah, the Word of God in Scripture and the Word made flesh in the Eucharist is nothing?

I am currently attending RCIA and exiting a large evangelical church (it is closed on Christmas too). They have a dynamic preacher, a very talented band, full multi-media presentations every Sunday, and all the other typical evangelical stuff. Yet, after learning what a Catholic receives at mass I no longer feel I “get anything” these evangelical services, it is just a religious pep rally.
 
carol marie:
According to the Chicago Tribune, many Evangelical mega-churches are not planning to hold services on Christmas this year, despite that the holiday falls on a Sunday. According to the article, they want people to have a “personal” experience on that day - rather than filling the pews (and what… worshiping Jesus?) The article goes on to say that many Catholic Churches have added services to accomodate those who wish to worship on Christmas. So I’d like to invite all my Evangelical brothers & sisters who find themselves without a Church on Chirstmas… your local Catholic Church welcomes you to celebrate the birth of our Savior. It’s what we believe Christmas is all about.

chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0512060228dec06,1,6644133.story?coll=chi-news-hed
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Did this paragraph in the story bother anyone else or just me? “In the 16th Century, leaders of the Protestant Reformation seeking to cleanse Christianity of its pagan influences and return to its biblical foundations banned Christmas, which was created long after the New Testament. By the late 17th Century, the Yuletide celebration was virtually nonexistent both in England and its colonies overseas.”
 
I pray this marks the beginning of the end for such ‘churches’.
 
carol marie:
Are you suggesting that we shouldn’t think it odd that a Christian Church would not be holding services on a Sunday? (not to mention that it’s Christmas Sunday… the birth of our Savior whom we celebrate)

Because God said “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it Holy.” And in the NT we are told to “not forsake the gathering of ourselves together.”

Christmas falls on a Sunday approx. every 11 years. This is not a new thing… but yet this is the first year I’ve heard of Christian Churches not having services. Do you think God has issued some sort of Christmas - don’t bother going to Church even though it’s Sunday - waver? Or is it MORE likely that some people have taken the attitude of “what’s in it for me?” and having church / going to church on Christmas morning really gets in the way of the socializing & present opening? Not to mention that, as it was discussed - no one wants to man the coffee bar/ food court on the holiday?
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It was Jesus who said
Mark 2:27
Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath

But this is more to the point…

Romans 14
4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

In other words we are not to judge who celebrates what on what date or time or how they do it…
Who are you to judge the servant of God because he doesn’t celebrate this or that….

The main reason why it is bad for a Catholic to miss Sunday mass is because according to canon law it is a holy day of obligation. The sin comes from rejecting the Church’s law and has little to do with the day of the week.

Incidentally I would have to look at my references but I believe that if a Catholic attends a Midnight mass they have fulfilled their Sunday obligation… in fact I am almost sure if it….
 
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