Yes, Virginia

Dear Virginia,

Thank you for your letter. I understand why you are shocked and puzzled that the church where you attend has canceled services because Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year. You are absolutely correct in saying Jesus should be the "reason for the season" above all. In fact, the word "Christmas" itself is a combination of two words, "Christ + Mass" which describes a worship service dedicated to the remembrance of the birth of Jesus. From looking at its origins, therefore, a Christmas without a worship service is not really Christmas at all.

For hundreds of years the majority of the world's Christian communions have found the time to hold worship services for Christ on His birthday, on whatever day of the week it happens to occur. After all, it is not OUR birthday, is it? Most of the churches that I know of who are canceling their services are the large, urban churches which we have come to know as "megachurches." These churches have become large by catering to the consumer mentality of our culture. Their decision is a reflection of this.

On the national news the other night I saw where Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago and a number of other well known huge churches, as well as Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, have canceled services for what used to be a high holy day, saying they wanted people to spend time with their families. But one employee from Willow Creek let slip the real reason for the cancellation: She said "it would not be an effective use of staff and resources." Since they anticipate low attendance, they feel it would not be worthwhile to pay the orchestra, sound and lighting crew, custodians, and other costs which add up to the cost of holding a worship service in a huge church. In other words, the decision was an economic and financial decision rather than a spiritual one.

I cannot tell you why these churches could not just be honest with us about why they are not holding services on Christmas Day. The last time I remember Christmas falling on a Sunday was 1994. As a pastor I privately wondered if very many people would come to church that day. To my delight and surprise, we had almost the level of attendance as usual, with a number of guests. Many of these guests were family members from out of town. Knowing this is a family time, they said what better thing to do with your family on Christmas than to worship the living Lord together, as a family? The one hour worship service did not seem to detract too much from the exchange of gifts, consumption of food, watching of television, or any other traditional experiences of family. If Christmas is more about family for some people than about Christ, they might view Christian worship as an intrusion on their family time. But there are some people who say "Let's keep Christ in Christmas," and really mean it.

They honor Jesus by keeping Him first in their families, and in turn they find that their families are blessed. They do not feel or act as though they are having to squeeze the baby Jesus into their busy Christmas schedule. Those who attended church on that Christmas Day in 1994 enjoyed a very simple, quiet, holy time with their Lord, a most meaningful time of worship and adoration. It was kind of like the Holy Birth itself: Nothing elaborate, just a time of intimacy with the God who so loved the world.

No, Virginia, I don't really think our commercial and consumer culture has completely taken over the minds and hearts of those who still cherish the holy days of the Church. For my part, I will be in church that day and I will be delighted to worship with whoever wants to come. I hope for everyone, whether they come or not, that the day will be most holy and blessed for them. Remember the Gospel. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome the light." And it never will.

Yours in Christ,
Bro. Bill

NOTE: all due credit to the Rev. Bill Buchanan, pastor of Salem United Methodist Church, Conway AR