Non Denominational Christmas Services

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Hope1960

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I know of two non denominational churches that are having their Christmas services on Dec.23 and Dec.24. One, maybe both, aren’t having regular weekend Saturday/Sunday services. Neither church is having a Christmas service on Christmas Day. What’s up with skipping regular weekend worship and having Christmas services on the day before Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve only?
Is that a non denominational thing or do other churches do things this way, too?
 
we Catholics are obligated to Christmas Day Catholic Mass, regardless of what else we attend.

We cannot expect other religions to do as we do.

Merry Christmas season
 
Hope1960 said:
Is that a non denominational thing or do other churches do things this way, too?
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Non-liturgical churches don’t typically have services on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, unless perhaps they actually fall on a Sunday. The Puritans didn’t celebrate Christmas at all because they felt it was just a time to party and engage in bad behavior, addition to alleged pagan origins. Today, Protestants will acknowledge Christmas because it is so popular, but those of us who are non-liturgical really have no reason to observe special services on the actual day. We just have special Christmas services on the closest Sunday.
 
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Dacinom said:
I find it sad, really. If you are a Christian and are a pastor of a non-denominational church, the birth of Jesus Christ is still pretty huge I would imagine. Gathering on THE day that we honor his birth in church means something. My two cents.
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It is an arbitrary day. What difference does it make if we remember Christ’s birth on December 23 or 25? You don’t have to agree, but that is how many Protestants feel.
 
I would imagine they just schedule a church service for the day when they think the most people will attend and when it’s most convenient for whoever is planning/ participating in the worship service.

it’s kind of hard to speculate on why non-denominational churches do anything, since the motivations differ depending on the type of non-denominational church and where it’s getting its attendees from. Some of them are trying to attract people who may also be attending denominational churches at least part of the time, in which case the non-denominational church will be careful to schedule at least some services that don’t compete with the denominational ones. It’s like, “Hey, check out our awesome Christmas Eve service and then you still have Christmas Day free to go to your regular church with your family.” This is especially true of the non-denominational churches pushing big entertainment-style services.
 
Nope. It can mean everything from “regional entertainment mega-church” to some guy who just dropped out of the Baptist church because he didn’t like the new minister and is now going to do things his way.
 
But you see courses advertised for studying to qualify as a “non-denominational minister.” It looks as though there must be some kind of institutional structure. Or can anyone advertise a course of this kind?
 
try pulling that one on kids waiting for santa , I can hear the uproar now
 
Eh, whatever you want to do these days there is some storefront offering courses for it in hopes of taking your money.

Even for the handful of states that require ministers to be licensed, I don’t think there is any specific education requirement. So such courses are either for somebody’s personal interest/ knowledge or else so he can put on his web bio that he has an associates degree in Non-denominational Ministry from the Global Institute of Ministerial Studies or whatever quack name the institution calls itself.
 
Dacinom said:
non-denominational church, the birth of Jesus Christ is still pretty huge
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The non-denominational Church I grew up in didn’t have a Christmas celebration, even if it fell on Sunday, because the actual day of birth wasn’t mentioned in the Bible. The redemptive power of Christ’s passion on Calvary was preached more heavily than his incarnation. We also didn’t have a special service for Easter Sunday because it was taught that every Sunday was a celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The last time I went to a service with my family it struck me as odd that the preacher didn’t even mention the fact that it was Easter Sunday.
 
My thoughts too. I can’t imagine not having Mass on Christmas. My holiday experience would be missing the high point. I feel sorry for these people.
 
I pity people in these faith communities. It’s more than remembering. It is understanding the role of Christmas in salvation history. Worship on Christmas is putting Christ above the trappings of secularism, earthly concerns, and holiday gluttony. It is about marking the momentous moment that leads to salvation. Making it optional or inconsequential ignores the dignity the occasion deserves.
 
At my home non-denominational church we always had/have a candle-light Christmas Eve service.
 
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ColorMomma said:
It is about marking the momentous moment that leads to salvation. Making it optional or inconsequential ignores the dignity the occasion deserves.
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It’s not that they completely ignore it. Most non-denominational churches do celebrate Christmas–they just tend to do it on the Sunday closest to it. There will often be Christmas themed sermons and Nativity plays.
 
(be) Happy (in) Christ (at) Mass , it’s up them I don’t know probably lots of reasons, if there wasn’t a Reformation a lot more Christians even so-called non-denoms would be going to a Catholic Mass on this day (or through out year) just glad I’m Catholic and able to attend this joyful day and give thanks and Praise.
 
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Meanwhile, I believe our cathedral has 9 Christmass Masses scheduled between Christmas Eve evening and Christmas Day. I suspect there will be large crowds at every one of them.
 
twf said:
Meanwhile, I believe our cathedral has 9 Christmass Masses scheduled between Christmas Eve evening and Christmas Day. I suspect there will be large crowds at every one of them.
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I am truly intrigued why so many are “Christians” at Christmas and Easter.
 
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