EMAILED QUESTION:  “Is it appropriate to cancel Christmas Day Service this year when it falls on a Sunday?  Our church is planning to have a full service Christmas Eve and take Christmas Day off, sending families home with appropriate material to help them celebrate Christmas at home as a family. “

ANSWER: When Christmas falls on Sunday I don’t think it’s anti-Biblical to have services on Saturday night and leave Christmas day for families to spend together.  The early church evidently met on Saturday (or late Sunday) night in Acts 20.  However, we concluded at Southeast that it would be wise to have a service on Christmas Sunday as well.  It avoided criticism from those who don’t understand Christian freedom (“all things are permissible but not all things are expedient” the Bible says) and provided the opportunity for those who couldn’t come on Saturday night to still worship.   Instead of having two services we had one.  Instead of meeting in the Sanctuary we met in the fellowship hall.  Instead of using a full worship band we just used the keyboard.  That way the service was unique, intimate and very meaningful.  We were glad we did it that way but didn’t pass judgment on those who chose not to meet on Christmas day.

– Bob

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