Every time Christmas settles on a weekend, there is an uproar (debate?) over the fact that many churches (especially the large, non-denominational entities) do not offer a worship service on Christmas Day, which also happens to be a Sunday. These groups encourage people to spend the day with their families. This also gives the staff members of these churches – whose job it is to provide and lead worship!? – an opportunity to stay at home with family.
Granted, fewer people attend worship on Christmas Day, but why not offer worship for those who wish to do so? Especially on Sunday, the Lord’s Day! The day of…drum roll, please….the resurrection!
This is why we worship on Sunday! Sunday is the day of resurrection, as well as the beginning of creation and the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost. To say that man’s wishes trump our focus on Christ is, well, man-centered and narcissistic.
Please understand: you do not HAVE to worship on Christmas Day, even if it is on a Sunday. But do not deprive people of the opportunity to join with others and publicly worship their King!
There are some churches that are not offering worship on Christmas Day/Sunday this year. If this is the perspective, then I would expect them not to offer worship on Easter. Wouldn’t it be nice (better?) for staff and for prospective worshipers to spend time with their families? An added bonus: no sunrise services. A definite plus! Sleep in. Focus on self. Think I might be able to convince our Elders and Worship Committee to forgo worship on Easter?
Might become a habit. Actually, for many, staying away from worship already is. Do we need to offer more encouragement to do so?
Whether you choose to spend Christmas Day morning at home (if so, will you be attending in Christmas Eve?) or you are drawn to public worship of our newborn King, may your voices join that of the heavenly army, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” (Luke 2:14)
A Blessed Christmas to you and yours!
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
Granted, fewer people attend worship on Christmas Day, but why not offer worship for those who wish to do so? Especially on Sunday, the Lord’s Day! The day of…drum roll, please….the resurrection!
This is why we worship on Sunday! Sunday is the day of resurrection, as well as the beginning of creation and the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost. To say that man’s wishes trump our focus on Christ is, well, man-centered and narcissistic.
Please understand: you do not HAVE to worship on Christmas Day, even if it is on a Sunday. But do not deprive people of the opportunity to join with others and publicly worship their King!
There are some churches that are not offering worship on Christmas Day/Sunday this year. If this is the perspective, then I would expect them not to offer worship on Easter. Wouldn’t it be nice (better?) for staff and for prospective worshipers to spend time with their families? An added bonus: no sunrise services. A definite plus! Sleep in. Focus on self. Think I might be able to convince our Elders and Worship Committee to forgo worship on Easter?
Might become a habit. Actually, for many, staying away from worship already is. Do we need to offer more encouragement to do so?
Whether you choose to spend Christmas Day morning at home (if so, will you be attending in Christmas Eve?) or you are drawn to public worship of our newborn King, may your voices join that of the heavenly army, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” (Luke 2:14)
A Blessed Christmas to you and yours!
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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