Instead, leaders at churches including North Church, People's Church and New Life Bible Church in Norman said they are offering multiple Christmas Eve services.
LifeChurch.tv, the Edmond-based megachurch with multiple satellites throughout the metro and in other states, also has numerous Christmas Eve services planned but will be closed Christmas Day.
The Rev. Alan Danielson, New Life's senior pastor, said he thinks most people will show up Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.
“Our elders, me included, are convinced that people who don't normally attend church just won't come on Christmas Day,” Danielson said.
Brian Rush, creative director at People's Church, said staff, volunteers and the congregation will be able to spend time with their families at home. He said church leaders believe they still are offering “the best of both worlds” to the community with several identical Christmas Eve-themed services Friday and Saturday and other holiday-themed events that began several weeks ago.
Other pastors, however, see Christmas Day as a time to attract individuals less inclined to attend church on a regular basis. A recent Lifeway Research survey of 1,000 pastors across the country shows that 91 percent plan to have services next Sunday.
The break from services echoes recent moves by non-denominational megachurches like the 20,000-member Saddleback Church in California, which canceled Sunday services next week to allow members to spend time with their families on Christmas.
It’s a troubling trend to Pastor Myrue Spivey of Grace Bible Sanctuary of Palm Bay.
“It really concerns me when I hear about churches canceling services. The whole great commission of Jesus is to reach the lost,” said Spivey, who plans to hold two traditional services on Christmas.
As a church, we need to be there. We shouldn’t shrink to accommodate the culture.”
Other pastors see no other choice but to celebrate one of the holiest days on the traditional Christian calendar in church — whatever day it falls on.
“It’s (Jesus’) birthday, a time of worship. It’s the reason for what we do. Our faith is built on it,” said Jarvis Wash, pastor of the Reaching Equipping Affecting Lives 4 Christ church in Rockledge.
“My children know they’re going to church that morning. Our tradition is to gather as a family Christmas Eve and share what we’re thankful for, sing songs.”
On Merritt Island, the East Coast Christian Center’s one service will be at 10 a.m. Christmas.
Praise Cathedral of Melbourne will offer free cookies, family portraits and a candlelight service starting at 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. The church will have a one-hour worship program Sunday.
Centerpointe Church in Palm Bay plans to turn the holiday into a day of service. Church members will meet for about 30 minutes at the sanctuary, then fan out to a homeless shelter and area nursing homes.
“They’re going to be servants in the community. We didn’t want to have a regular service, but this way, we’ll be out doing for others, going into nursing homes, reading to people, doing their hair and using our gifts to serve,” said Milton Mazariegos, family pastor for Centerpointe.
The House, a congregation in Palm Bay, will have Christmas Eve services but is asking families to conduct worship in their homes for Christmas Day. Likewise, Trinity Presbyterian Church of Satellite Beach and Grace Church Melbourne are canceling Sunday services.
Olinski added that the congregation of about 150 members at Grace Church Melbourne will instead conduct a free community program at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve at the Melbourne Auditorium with praise music and a holiday message.
“We will use that service to focus on the community and folks who don’t have a home church,” Olinski said.
No comments:
Post a Comment