Back then, when churches across the nation scrambled to make a decision between holding services and closing for the day, open doors led to half-empty pews. Shut doors resulted in a backlash.
The collision will happen again this year, prompting churches nationwide to alter their typical Sunday routines.
While Catholics and Episcopalians consider Christmas a Holy Day and attend service regardless of where it falls on the calendar, Protestants tend to view the day as time for family celebration and feel less obligated to the church, research shows. Most who attend church do so on Christmas Eve.
About nine of 10 churches will host some type of Christmas Day services this year, says a nationwide poll conducted by LifeWay Research, a Tennessee-based Christian research group. Still, most churches will adjust their schedules in anticipation of diminished attendance.
Throughout Tampa Bay, churches are planning to fit worship in where they can. Some will take off Christmas Day. Some will open for one service instead of two or three, or host evening services.
First United Church of Tampa on Fowler Avenue will go the route of a Christmas brunch. The casual event will include prayer and Scripture reading. The turnout may not be great, pastor Bernice Powell Jackson said, but she thinks it's important people know they can come to church on Christmas.
"I know we have people in the congregation and in the community who don't have family to spend the holiday with and many of them will join us," she said.
Holy Ghost Parish, 71 Linden St. On Christmas Eve, Vigil Mass at 4 p.m. at Holy Ghost and 6 p.m. at St. Joseph's. Midnight Mass at Holy Ghost at 11:30 p.m. with choir concert. On Christmas Day, 10 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph's and Spanish Mass at noon at St. Joseph's. Info: hgchurch@verizon.net or 508-222-3266 . Immanuel Lutheran Church, 647 North Main St. On Christmas Eve, candelight services 6 and 10 p.m. with Holy Communion. Christmas Day: Lessons and carols, 9 a.m. Blue Christmas on Dec. 17, 4 p.m. More info at www.immanuellc.org., 508-222-2898 .
Murray Unitarian Universalist Church. On Christmas Eve, candlelight service at 7 p.m. and musical prelude at 6:30 p.m. No service Christmas Day. Nursery care and children's program begins at 10 a.m. Info: 508-222-0505 or at murrayuuchurch.org. Holiday music by the Prolatio Singers.
National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette, 947 Park St., 508-236-9068 . Masses are Mondays-Fridays, 12:10 p.m., 6:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at 12:10 p.m. Adoration is Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Services on Christmas Day at 12:10, 4 and 6:30 p.m. Festival of Lights, through Jan. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. daily.
Second Congregational Church of Attleboro, United Church of Christ. Service with Rev. Vern Wright. On Christmas Eve, a candlelight service at 5 p.m. More info: attleborosecondchurch.org or at 508-222-4677 .
The Salvation Army Attleboro Corps, 5 Mechanic St. On Christmas Eve, fellowship at 7 p.m. followed by service at 7:30 p.m. On Christmas Day, Holiness meeting at 10 a.m.
St. John the Evangelist Church, 1 St. John Place, Masses Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 8, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Info: 508-222-1206 , www.stjohns-attleboro.org. On Christmas Eve, Mass at 4, 6 p.m. and midnight. Christmas concert at 11 p.m. On Christmas Day, Mass at 10 a.m.
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, 18 Baltic St., South Attleboro, Masses on Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 a.m. and Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30, 9, and 11 a.m. Confessions Saturdays from 3:30 to 4 p.m. On Christmas Eve, Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. and at 10 p.m. On Christmas Day, Mass at 9 and 11 a.m.
Easton
St. Joseph's Parish, 208 South Main St. On Christmas Eve, Vigil Mass at 4 p.m. at Holy Ghost, 6 p.m. at St. Joseph's. Midnight Mass at Holy Ghost, 11:30 p.m. Choir concert. On Christmas Day, services at 10 a.m. and Spanish Mass at noon. Info: stjosephattleboro@gmail.com or 508-226-1115 .
Foxboro
Bethany Congregational Church, 3 Rockhill St. Christmas Pageant Dec. 24, 5 p.m.; Christmas Eve service with candlelight, 7 p.m., with communion and candlelight at 11 p.m. On Christmas Day, there will be a service of music and meditation by candlelight from 4-5 p.m. in the chapel. More info at 508-543-5678 .
Foxboro Universalist Church (Unitarian Universalist), 6 Bird St. on Foxboro Common, worship at 10 a.m. Interim minister is Jose Ballester. On Christmas Eve, Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m.
Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 212 Main St. Online: www.lcor.org, or at 508-543-4071 . The congregation's affiliate, Our Redeemer Child Care Center, 212 Main St., has openings. Info: Director Liz Molloy at 508-543-7988 . On Christmas Eve, at 6 p.m. contemporary worship and 9 p.m. traditional worship, both with Holy Communion.
Mansfield
Congregational Church of Mansfield, 17 West St. The pastor is Rev. Ted Newcomb. Info: occmansfield.org. On Christmas Eve at 7 p.m., intergenerational Christmas Eve candlelight service. Message, "Quietly Pondering Christmas ... Mystery and Meaning," with scripture from Luke 2:1-7, 8-12. Christmas Day service, 10 a.m., with poetry and music. Message, "Service of Song and Story," with scripture from John 1:1-14.
First Christian Church (an Evangelical Congregational Church), 11 Otis St. Service with Rev. John Wolfe. Christmas Eve service at 4:30 p.m., sermon "The Christmas Song," with scripture from Luke 2:8-20. Christmas Day service at 10:30 a.m. Sermon, "The Christmas Gifts Christ Gives," scripture 2 Corinthians 9:15. Online: www.fccmansfield.org.
St. Mary's Church, 330 Pratt St., Saturday vigil at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9, 10:30 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. On Christmas Eve, 4 p.m. hymns and carols with adult bell choir, 4:10 in Parish gym, carols led by Spirit of Life Music Ministry. Hymns and carols at 6:30 p.m. Midnight Mass. On Christmas morning, hymns at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. with children's choir, noon hymns with organ. There is no 6 p.m. Mass.
Norfolk
Emmanuel Baptist Church, The senior pastor is Rev. John C. Ames. On Christmas Eve, services at 6 and 8 p.m. On Christmas Day, services at 10:45 a.m. New Year's service Jan. 1, 10:45 a.m. only.
Federated Church of Norfolk, 1 Union St. Worship with Rev. Scott Cousineau at 10 a.m. Nursery, Sunday school. More info: 508-528-0262 , www.fcon.org. Blue Christmas service on Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m. On Christmas Eve, family service, 8 p.m. candlelight service, 11 p.m. candlelight communion. No worship Dec. 25.
No comments:
Post a Comment