With Christmas on a Sunday, some Oklahoma churches alter worship plans

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I don’t think not celebrating Xmas as a significant holiday has made my faith less. I do not believe Xmas means any thing but an “empty form” UNLESS…“Christ is born daily in one’s heart…”

First Day is no more holy because Xmas falls on this day than any other day…His coming into the world santified each and every day…and each day we have the option of celebrating Xmas every day of the year…not just one day at the end of Twelfth Month.

All that being said…I have attended Xmas Eve services at my sister’s “Welcoming Baptist” church group…they too when Xmas falls on a Sunday…offer Xmas Eve Midnight Services…and foregoing Xmas morning…reserving that for family…Jesus santified families then too…
 
I love how their excuses are “we want people to spend time with their families”. Don’t people go to church as a family?
 
When I was a Baptist and Christmas ran on a Sunday, we simply cancelled Sunday night church.
It shows you the priorities of these mega-churches.
 
An in-law asked if our Catholic church will have “service” on Christmas since it fell on a Sunday. She said her church would this year since it falls on a Sunday. ( I do not think they have any type of worship service on any other day of the week but Sunday, although they do have classes for married couples or bible study classes on Wednesday evening for people to go to.) I told her that we have Mass every day of the week so that if possible for those who want we can praise and worship God together, but that it was important for the family of God to meet at least once a week for praise and worship and the Church has decided that Sunday is the day to do s, because Christ rose on a Sunday.
 
JustaServant said:
When I was a Baptist and Christmas ran on a Sunday, we simply cancelled Sunday night church.
It shows you the priorities of these mega-churches.
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While I disagree with the policy (our parish will have Divine Service Sunday morning), I’m not sure I’m willing to make a judgement regarding their priorities, at least not beyond what they have stated:
“We decided not to have service on Christmas Day so that people could be together with family, but we also wanted to give every opportunity possible for people to be in church,” Rush said.

Jon
 
Meeting will be held as usual…there will most likely be fewer in attendance as they choose to celebrate with family and loved ones…rarely…rarely have I ever heard vocal ministry offered on Twelfth Month, Twenty-fifth, First Day the birth stories of Jesus NOT connected with “Christ must be born daily in our hearts”…

I would think that when Jesus is reported to have said…"Where two or three are gathered together in my name…there am I in their midst.’ He included his Presence at family gatherings who acknowledged His Presence with a moment of prayer and thanksgiving…for Friends…and most evangelicals to an extent…The Church isn’t a matter of the geographical location of a building…but the Living Stones of His Temple…made with flesh and blood members… gathered any where in His Name IS THE CHURCH.
 
Publisher said:
I don’t think not celebrating Xmas as a significant holiday has made my faith less. I do not believe Xmas means any thing but an “empty form” UNLESS…“Christ is born daily in one’s heart…”

First Day is no more holy because Xmas falls on this day than any other day…His coming into the world santified each and every day…and each day we have the option of celebrating Xmas every day of the year…not just one day at the end of Twelfth Month.

All that being said…I have attended Xmas Eve services at my sister’s “Welcoming Baptist” church group…they too when Xmas falls on a Sunday…offer Xmas Eve Midnight Services…and foregoing Xmas morning…reserving that for family…Jesus santified families then too…
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I find the term XMass offensive, brother. Just sayin…
 
Luigi_Daniele said:
I find the term XMass offensive, brother. Just sayin…
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“X” is the Chi of the Chi Rho…in English it would appear to be a “P” superimposed over an “X”…surely you’ve seen them in your meetinghouse?

“X” is the “X” of “christos”…“X” was the second letter of “ichthus”…which signified Christ in these first decades the fledgling group of followers of Jesus further sought one another out and the “proto-orhodox/catholic” group of the people called Christians became the dominant form of Christianity.

It is not meant ot be “offensive” friend…
 
Publisher said:
“X” is the Chi of the Chi Rho…in English it would appear to be a “P” superimposed over an “X”…surely you’ve seen them in your meetinghouse?

“X” is the “X” of “christos”…“X” was the second letter of “ichthus”…which signified Christ in these first decades the fledgling group of followers of Jesus further sought one another out and the “proto-orhodox/catholic” group of the people called Christians became the dominant form of Christianity.

It is not meant ot be “offensive” friend…
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I knew the explanation.😉

Once upon a time, it may not have been offensive. These days it most often is used to omit Christ.

I did not think that you were doing it to be offensive, brother 🙂
 
Luigi_Daniele said:
I knew the explanation.😉

Once upon a time, it may not have been offensive. These days it most often is used to omit Christ.

I did not think that you were doing it to be offensive, brother 🙂
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I often read on this board how one should not “cave” simply because of “modernism”…“X” may be used to as one evangelical fundamental Baptist acquaintence…“You’re trying to ex Christ out of Christmas”…I would explain the meaning of the ancient Christian symbol of the “X”…Andrew was crucified on an “X” cross…the “X” has deep Christian meaning…ancient meaning…shouldn’t we preserve the “ancient” ways of expressing ourselves?🙂
 
Publisher said:
I often read on this board how one should not “cave” simply because of “modernism”…“X” may be used to as one evangelical fundamental Baptist acquaintence…“You’re trying to ex Christ out of Christmas”…I would explain the meaning of the ancient Christian symbol of the “X”…Andrew was crucified on an “X” cross…the “X” has deep Christian meaning…ancient meaning…shouldn’t we preserve the “ancient” ways of expressing ourselves?🙂
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Words change. Meanings change. The Evil One does this all the time.
 
Luigi_Daniele said:
Words change. Meanings change. The Evil One does this all the time.
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Surely Christ doesn’t change?🙂 “X” is an ancient sign…also standig for the cross…by our use and explanation of it’s use…we can “redeem” it’s use…isn’t that what Christ is all about…Redemption? Embracing the paradox that by losing our lives we find it…a symbol of scorn and death became a beloved symbol now for over 1800 years in one form or another as the symbol of our redemption…why let the “evil one” defeat it’s use…if we want “Christ in Christmas”…what better place to start than with the first letter of “Christos” and perhaps receive an opportunity to share about why Xristmas is about Xristos?🙂
 
Publisher said:
Surely Christ doesn’t change?🙂 “X” is an ancient sign…also standig for the cross…by our use and explanation of it’s use…we can “redeem” it’s use…isn’t that what Christ is all about…Redemption? Embracing the paradox that by losing our lives we find it…a symbol of scorn and death became a beloved symbol now for over 1800 years in one form or another as the symbol of our redemption…why let the “evil one” defeat it’s use…if we want “Christ in Christmas”…what better place to start than with the first letter of “Christos” and perhaps receive an opportunity to share about why Xristmas is about Xristos?🙂
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You make a compelling argument 🙂
 
I don’t understand why they would not have church service on Christmas Day even if it falls on Sunday this year. That shows what their priorities are, it is certainly not on Christ. Our church always has a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services no matter what day of the week it falls on.
 
“Our elders, me included, are convinced that people who don’t normally attend church just won’t come on Christmas Day,” Danielson said.
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As a life long Catholic that just seems totally bizarre to me…

Forty plus years going to the Catholic Church and while Sundays in the summer, Sundays in Advent and Lent, Sundays throughout the year attendance may (sadly) rise and fall with the church sometimes being less than half full, and with too many Holy Days of Obligation seeming like the Church is almost empty, you can always count on Christmas and Easter Masses to be standing room only. Two days a year, it doesn’t matter the day of the week, it doesn’t matter the weather conditions, every single Mass celebrating Christmas and Easter the building will be over-filled with joyful believers celebrating our Lord.

And seriously they are making their decision to hold services based on what those who “don’t normally attend church” are likely to do? What about those that were likely to worship God on HIS day? Sounds like a great opportunity from some Oklahoma City Catholics to reach out and evangelize the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church instituted by Christ Himself…
 
jimcook87 said:
And seriously they are making their decision to hold services based on what those who “don’t normally attend church” are likely to do? What about those that were likely to worship God on HIS day? Sounds like a great opportunity from some Oklahoma City Catholics to reach out and evangelize the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church instituted by Christ Himself…
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When your entire “church” is nothing more than a marketing gimmick to attract more people, Its not surprising.
 
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