The idea that Christmas Eve is a prime marketing opportunity to attract new members is widespread among pastors. In online forums, they give each other advice on crafting services that are broken down into digestible segments that will “hold the attention” of infrequent church-goers. (They also devote considerable space to trading concerns about the fire hazards posed by those Christmas Eve candles their congregants love holding.) One pastor said he considered regular Sunday services at his church to be “seeker-friendly,” but holidays like Christmas and Easter were “seeker-focused.” The irony is that by holding Christmas Eve services that cater to first-time visitors and shuttering their doors on Christmas Day, churches often fail to meet the spiritual needs of their longtime members on one of the holiest days of the year.
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They never miss an opportunity to slam Christianity. MSM is synonymous with “bunch of losers.”
What was that ToL article about more and more people in London searching for churches?
Blake on December 26, 2008 at 9:49 AM
In the Roman Catholic Church, going to the vigil mass is as good as going to the Holy Day of Obligation mass. Hence lotsa folks go to the Saturday mass (which could be as early as 4:00PM) instead of Sunday mass.
Little Boomer on December 26, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Blake, this article is true though. Christmas is not a religious holiday for most people/families.
Zetterson on December 26, 2008 at 9:54 AM
So… according to Time Magazine, we are supposed to believe that the family and faith are fundmentally at odds with each other in our secular culture? Give me a break! The family that attended a Christmas Eve service is the same family that gathered the day after to celebrate in a continuing fashion what they took part in the night before. There is no inconsistency or inherent conflict in that. And this coming from a secular pundit, calling into question and critiquing what true religious faith and the family practising that faith means.
journeyman on December 26, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Why are people so sensitive to this article? Its not bashing your faith. Its simply an article about what Christmas means to people. And the fact is that Christmas is not a religious day for most Americans. Its a day to exchange gifts, talk to little ones about Santa Claus and hang with the fam. Thats why people who aren’t even Christian celebrate Christmas. Its no longer a religious day for people. It may be to you. Thats wonderful. Now stop being so sensitive.
Zetterson on December 26, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Depends on the definition of “Christian”!
Lonetown on December 26, 2008 at 10:09 AM
I’m with Journeyman. It’s manufactured conflict.
Quisp on December 26, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Zetterson on December 26, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Zetterson, in calling into question my sensitivity to this article you engage in an ad hominem argument.
ad hominem – appealing to personal interests, prejudices, or to emotions rather to reason.
journeyman on December 26, 2008 at 10:13 AM
I’m with Journeyman. It’s manufactured conflict.
Quisp on December 26, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Thanks, Quisp. It is “manufactured conflict.” I like that phrase!
journeyman on December 26, 2008 at 10:16 AM
How do you know this?
Itchee Dryback on December 26, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Silly article.
I didn’t go to mass.
But, this has been the most spiritual Christmas ever.
Not one gift exchanged, either.
bridgetown on December 26, 2008 at 10:23 AM
“For most Christians, Christmas is a day for family, not faith.” – Amy Sullivan
And, how does she know that as well?
journeyman on December 26, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Oy, that’s how it is with my family. Its all about the appearance of family togetherness.
AbaddonsReign on December 26, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Haha.
Zetterson on December 26, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Midnight Mass @ the Monastery for us @ the Farm…my family all went to my great surprise.
This is just the continued efforts of the MSM/SecularWorld to ‘disappear’ Christmas. Did anyone see this POS on Christmas Day from the Beantown Glob??
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/12/25/the_taming_of_christmas/
It is why my Master said ‘but will there be any Faithful left when I return?!!’
lobosan5 on December 26, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Well, journeyman may be correct in saying that my assertion is an ad hominem argument, but allow me to state is as such; My assertion that Christmas has less to do with religion than it once did is just an obvious observation. Sort of like saying, children are generally not as formally well behaved and respectful of elders as they once were. Difficult to prove one way or the other, but I think we know it to be true. I’m alive, celebrating Christmas, watching people celebrate Christmas in their own ways. What I’m arguing is simply my own observation.
There are other pieces of circumstantial evidence as well. Such as the shows on TV. Years back the Television sets would be plastered with overtly religious christmas shows. This year, press your TV power button on during Christmas eve or Christmas day and all you will find is movies like Christmas Vacation, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf, A Christmas Story, The Grinch, etc. In other words, not anti-religious shows, but shows that just don’t mention, or barely mention Christianity or Christ or Jesus or whatever. Its about Santa. Its for the kids.
Zetterson on December 26, 2008 at 10:44 AM
“The idea that Christmas Eve is a prime marketing opportunity to attract new members is widespread among pastors”
Sigh…
Please don’t lecture on marketing.
When is the next round of TIME layoffs?
artist on December 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Zett, this storyline strikes me as the opposite of RatherGate – the facts are correct, but the larger truth may not be.
As Sullivan said, demand for Christmas Eve vigil services is sky high, but Christmas Day mass and services are non-existent – agreed.
The Disconnect: In what religious universe does Sullivan live, that Christmas eve vigil service is somehow a separate event from Christmas? Yes, Christmas Day for this Christian is a day of family, and not church. This is because tradition in my faith has evolved toward the celebration of the mid-night birth of Christ Jesus with a mid-night sacred, reverent service, filled with scripture, music, deep reverence, and yes, families.
She got the data right, and the whole story wrong, imo. Our small church holds two services every Sunday, and could probably get everyone into one. We hold three services on Christmas Eve, and they are standing room only. Hasn’t she ever heard of Christmas and Easter Christians?
Jaibones on December 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Any day now.
Jaibones on December 26, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Manufactured facts
Not manufactured commandments
A family gathering to celebrate Christmas is not unholy
A church is not an entity obligated to meet the needs of their patrons – that is a supermarket.
A Christian church is a entity formed as a religious gathering according to the doctrine of that church. A church cannot fail a member, because Christians receive their strength from Jesus and not from churches.
Midnight services are a way to get closer to the Christ child story, since the birth was at night, and the darkness of the world was illuminated by the entrance of the Redeemer. It is not easier to go the church at midnight, than at 10 am Sunday
Attracting infrequent churchgoers follows the command of Jesus to become fishermen of men.
Another of many attempts to degrade Christians by re defining them as secular fakes. The Romans spent a lot o energy on this. The story of Saint Genesius is a touching remimder of this tradition
entagor on December 26, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Speaking as a Catholic this is the stupidest article I have ever seen. I have never been to Mass on Christmas Day in my life. I go to Midnight Mass. So does everybody else I know but they do have more services earlier on Christmas Eve now.
Those services are after sundown and so are Christmas Masses.The same thing is true for any Saturday, more people attend Mass Saturday evening now, instead of Sunday.
I have never seen a church, no matter what denomination, that shutters it’s doors on Christmas Day anyway. This is just one more lame attempt to disassociate Christmas from Christ.
Rocks on December 26, 2008 at 11:02 AM
-heh-
Going to the MSM for religous news/opinion is like going to your plumber for news in the field of quantum mechanics.
Religious_Zealot on December 26, 2008 at 11:02 AM
What in the world do you think they are doing there? Playing slot machines?? Christmas eve mass before mid-night is the vigil, taken from Jewish tradition that the new day begins at sun down. Sunday too, is a “family day”– church in AM. big Sunday dinner, watch football or visit etc. Where is this guy from? Slobia?
Herb on December 26, 2008 at 11:04 AM
This whole statement is silly. Who says that a family that gets together and opens presents is not also remembering Christ’s birth and celebrating this also? The giving of presents is a reminder and celebration of God’s ultimate gift to the world. Has she visited the homes of Christians and determined that this is indeed the case? And how does she classify all the people that showed up at my Church Christmas day to prepare and deliver dinners to people in need? And before any of you wiseacres ask about why people only need food on holidays, we also support a food bank that feeds the hungry 365 days a year, but getting a hot turkey dinner with all the fixings is kind of nice on the holidays.
Buford on December 26, 2008 at 11:06 AM
An interesting examination which fails to heed its own distinction between the Protestant and Catholic traditions.
Catholics, on the other hand, are well known for their centuries old spectacle of Christ’s Mass (which was banned in 17th century England).
Plus, the author totally missed the fact that many churches stay open on Christmas day to host community dinners, free & open to all.
Finally, the author seemed confused on the significance between Easter & Christmas.
Fair attempt. Stylistically OK, but thematically weak.
I give it a ‘C’.
locomotivebreath1901 on December 26, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Time and other MSM rags will criticize Christians for being “too observant,” for being not observant enough… it doesn’t matter what we do, they will always criticize, dismiss, and ridicule. Perhaps if we started using the holidays as an excuse to lob mortars at Jews, we might start getting some favorable coverage.
greggriffith on December 26, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Like I said, idiot. Christmas Eve Masses counts as fulfilling the Christmas obligations as they are after sundown. They use the Christmas day readings. Very few Catholics ever attend both. Comparing it to Easter is dumb. Every day of Holy Week is a day of obligation, people attend all week but especially Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday.
The situation is not comparable.
Rocks on December 26, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Comparing Christmas and Easter shows the lack of real theological depth to this article.
And while it seems to be well researched (interesting information about the service of Lessons and Carols)…
…it doesn’t seem to make much use of that information (what was the point with all that information?).
One should also point out that while Protestant churches have well attended Christmas Eve services and few Christmas day services…
…they also have few Easter eve (vigil) services and well attended Easter services.
As an essay, I wouldn’t have graded this paper, I would have turned it back to the author and told her to do some more work on it and make some kind of coherent point.
Religious_Zealot on December 26, 2008 at 11:49 AM
FIFY
-grumble- -grumble- Blooming idiots who think family and faith are mutually exclusive. -grumble- -grumble-
Religious_Zealot on December 26, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Last time I checked, Time Magazine wasn’t on my list of holy doctrines.
Meh. Another hit piece failing to understand the significance of Christmas. God’s gift of His Son to the world.
Tennman on December 26, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Of course we know that Christmas is not a religious holiday for many in our country. BUT those people are not the target of Sullivan’s article. She attempts to redefine the meaning of this holiday and our practice of it for Christians (see article title) with anecdotal evidence. This is not news, but an editorial.
As others have stated above, Sullivan contradicts herself by posing family and faith as mutually exclusive.
We don’t need some MSM blowhard to re-define the meaning of Christmas for Christians and gauge its value by how we supposedly honor this day with faulty evidence. Simply, she’s wrong.
conservative pilgrim on December 26, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Christmas is in fact about family and faith in concert, not as dueling loyalties. It was a family (Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus) that ushered in the whole thing.
It’s just a bit… strange… to read an article talking about crowded Christmas Eve services, but somehow people hanging out with their families on Christmas Day rather than sitting in pews highlights their lack of religious observance.
Poorly written article. No logical consistency.
cs89 on December 26, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Everyday is a day about faith to Christians. Faith is a daily struggle for ALL Christians.
exactly cs89
pabo on December 26, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Huh.
This Lutheran pastor saw a well attended Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols, which was followed by (and explicitly completed by) the Christ Mass several hours later. Both were attended– with only a 20% variance between the two.
The Faith is not of the American Culture, but is its own thing, counter to every culture of man, and informing the best of human culture ever since our Lord declared that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent on that long ago day in the Garden.
Scribbler on December 26, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Just want to add one more counterpoint to the article’s silliness: a Christmas mass or service at midnight is on Christmas day!
corona on December 26, 2008 at 12:44 PM
.. and no, there are no Holy Days of Obligation (other than Palm Sunday, of course) during Holy Week
corona on December 26, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Another thought…
…if her point was to somehow ridicule the faith of Christians based on her anecdotal evidence that Christians don’t attend church on Christmas day…
…where was the research into the facts that the early church didn’t celebrate Christmas. In fact, throughout the history of the Christian church there have been sects and denominations that did not celebrate Christmas (e.g. the Puritans).
These people did so NOT out of lack of faith, but because their faith indicated to them that Christmas was not intended to be celebrated and wasn’t anywhere near as important as Easter.
Religious_Zealot on December 26, 2008 at 1:44 PM