I’ll be home for Christmas…
I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me…
Can you hear the music? You should be hearing it in your head right about now. The truth is that, yes I will be… sitting right in my living room enjoying some much desired time with my family- celebrating the birth of our savior.
Every so often, Christmas and New Years Day happen to fall on a Sunday, which creates some dilemmas for us as church leaders. Do we have services or not? What decision do we make so that we can honor Jesus and honor his people? What about the staff and faithful volunteers who arrive early and stay late, and will take more time away from their families? What about the small group of people that would attend on Christmas Sunday? As always, prayer and wisdom were used in making this decision. Here are some reasons as to why I will be home for Christmas this Christmas Sunday:
1. We will have a 5:00pm Christmas Eve Service-
We still want to be together with you as our church family and celebrate Jesus’ birth. We are not just canceling a Christmas service, but we are offering an opportunity to have a Christmas service on Christmas Eve to worship and honor the King of Kings. By offering this special time of worship together the night before, we have the opportunity to get filled up spiritually before we head out into the holidays and spend time with the very people that need Him and His love most. The very ones that you have been specifically called to be a light to. So please don’t miss out on honoring Him during this special season. Join with us at 5:00pm on Christmas Eve and bring your family and your friends.
2. Our staff and volunteers-
They don’t need to serve at church on Christmas Sunday- they do this year round, week in and week out. Seriously people, there is far more time involved than what you see at 9am or 11am. This small wonderful, group of faithful, committed, and AMAZING volunteers and staff have stole Tracee’s and my heart! Honestly, I am so grateful for all of them who make our services possible every week. Besides the time put into planning and preparing for services through out the week, just to have our services require Saturday set-ups, early arrival on Sunday mornings, and Sunday afternoon tear downs… and they do this EVERY WEEK. I just want them as well as our entire church to enjoy this holiday season to the fullest. I want them to be home celebrating Jesus and serving their own families during this already busy season.
3. I want to be home with my family-
Call it selfish, but I really like these guys!
4. Hardly anyone will be there-
91% of churches in America will be open on Christmas Sunday, yet only 14-18% of people will actually attend. Really?
“If our target and our mission is to reach the unchurched, basically the people who don’t go to church, how likely is it that they’ll be going to church on Christmas morning?”
Oh ya, the attendance on the Sunday after Thanksgiving factored in it. Very low! As well as Christmas Sunday’s attendance in previous years.
5. Church is for honoring Jesus, encouraging each other, and reaching the lost-
Very difficult to do this when the people aren’t here- lol. Lost people aren’t coming… and I’m pretty sure most of you wouldn’t be coming. Here in lies the reason why we have an alternative plan.
6. The House of God never closes-
Just a reminder, You and I are the house of God where He makes his home. A building is where His many homes come together creating His kingdom. That’s good stuff! His houses are open every day - all day! Remember this wherever you go and whoever you come in contact with.
7. Finally, we will be open on New Year’s Day to kick off the year correctly!
Together lifting up His name! We are getting geared up for a great year of seeing God show off and change lives, marriages and families. So prepare for Jan 1st as we bring in 2012 the right way! Putting Him first, just as we have done by having service on Christmas Eve.
The bottom line is I want to lift up Jesus and honor Him with everything I have!!! That includes Christmas as well as all the other days of the year. Having said that, I desire for our homes to honor God as well- full of love, laughter, joy and all the other characteristics of God. So enjoy this season to the fullest, and bring HIM and HIS love into everywhere you go and every one you come in contact with.
