Paging my Protestant friends

LaPorteAveApostle · December 05, 2014, 08:11:25 PM

First, happy St. Nicholas Day. I hope you get as big a kick out of this as I did:

Secondly, speaking of vigils for the next day, it occurred to me how many Protestant groups don't have services (almost wrote Mass) on Christmas Day. I remember reading about a divide that occurred when a few years ago (as it does) Christmas fell on Sunday and some still didn't have Sunday/Christmas services.

I was wondering what your respective communities have as their Christmas Eve/Day schedule?

And no, I'm not jealous because I'm playing 7 Masses myself.

bbtds · December 05, 2014, 09:50:24 PM

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 05, 2014, 08:11:25 PMSecondly, speaking of vigils for the next day, it occurred to me how many Protestant groups don't have services (almost wrote Mass) on Christmas Day. I remember reading about a divide that occurred when a few years ago (as it does) Christmas fell on Sunday and some still didn't have Sunday/Christmas services.

I was wondering what your respective communities have as their Christmas Eve/Day schedule?

And no, I'm not jealous because I'm playing 7 Masses myself.

Our LCMS church has two Christmas Eve services (5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.) and Christmas Day service (10:00 a.m.)

LaPorteAveApostle · December 05, 2014, 10:13:15 PM

I'm willing to bet that attendance goes from heavy to light as the services progress.

Part of what we have in common

How big is your community?

FWalum · December 05, 2014, 11:18:09 PM

St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church, one of the LCMS Mother churches and the birth place of the American Luther League and the Lutheran University Association, will have a 7PM Children's Christmas Eve Service with choral and instrumental music provided by the children of St. Paul's Lutheran School and an 11 PM Christmas Eve Services of Lessons and Carols with St. Paul's Adult Choir broadcast live on WOWO radio station 1190 AM. Christmas Day will be a Divine Festival service at 10AM

LaPorteAveApostle · December 06, 2014, 05:58:59 AM

That's beautiful. What a stunning place to have Christmas.

So two eve, one day (that's two in a row!). How does a "divine festival" (the day service) differ, may I ask?

FWalum · December 06, 2014, 07:32:31 AM

Festival setting (more singing and chanting) of the Mass or, as more commonly called by Lutherans, Divine service in which the Eucharist is celebrated.

vu72 · December 06, 2014, 09:30:48 AM

Our very small (350 or so members) ELCA church, will have three Christmas Eve services (6:00 Family Worship, 8:30 Candlelight Service and 11:00 Candlelight Service) All three will include the Eucharist which is not unusual or special as we celebrate the Eucharist at every normal Sunday Service.

As for a Christmas Day service, as our typical worship service runs about an hour and fifteen minutes, we WILL be worshiping on Christmas Day!!!!

bbtds · December 06, 2014, 11:58:15 AM

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 05, 2014, 10:13:15 PM
I'm willing to bet that attendance goes from heavy to light as the services progress.

Part of what we have in common

How big is your community?

2,000 members. About 700 for three services on the weekend including Saturday 6:30 p.m., Sunday 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. The 10:45 a.m. service is by far the fullest service by times two.

On Christmas Eve we have two overflowing services at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (about 450 each service) and on Christmas Day I think it's 80 to 100.

FWalum · December 06, 2014, 12:48:11 PM

Very interesting VU72 and bbtds. Care to give out church names and locations? Sounds like great ways to celebrate the birth of our Savior!

LaPorteAveApostle · December 06, 2014, 01:03:45 PM

Quote from: FWalum on December 06, 2014, 07:32:31 AMFestival setting (more singing and chanting)

ah! what we call (or called...) "High Mass"

Quote from: bbtds on December 06, 2014, 11:58:15 AM2,000 members

guessing that's huge?

Quote from: vu72 on December 06, 2014, 09:30:48 AMAs for a Christmas Day service, as our typical worship service runs about an hour and fifteen minutes, we WILL be worshiping on Christmas Day!

That's great--I can't believe you have a fraction of say bbtds' church and are having more services!

vu72 · December 06, 2014, 02:37:21 PM

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 06, 2014, 01:03:45 PM
Quote from: FWalum on December 06, 2014, 07:32:31 AMFestival setting (more singing and chanting)
ah! what we call (or called...) "High Mass"

Quote from: bbtds on December 06, 2014, 11:58:15 AM2,000 members
guessing that's huge?

Quote from: vu72 on December 06, 2014, 09:30:48 AMAs for a Christmas Day service, as our typical worship service runs about an hour and fifteen minutes, we WILL be worshiping on Christmas Day!
That's great--I can't believe you have a fraction of say bbtds' church and are having more services!

I guess it has more to do with seating capacity. Unfortunately, we all know that Christmas Eve draws WAY more folks then a typical week. I guess some of that is people visiting, but you get my point. We are Rejoice Lutheran, Coppell, Texas. Love to see "ya'll"!!

vu72 · December 06, 2014, 02:44:15 PM

Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on December 06, 2014, 01:03:45 PM
Quote from: FWalum on December 06, 2014, 07:32:31 AMFestival setting (more singing and chanting)
ah! what we call (or called...) "High Mass"

Quote from: bbtds on December 06, 2014, 11:58:15 AM2,000 members
guessing that's huge?

You mean for a Lutheran Church? Kinda. In Texas for sure, but if you go to "Lutheran Land" aka Minnesota, it isn't unusual at all. In my former suburb of Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, there were 5 Lutheran churches, 3 ELCA, 1 LCMS and 1 Wisconsin. The largest was about 12000, while mine, the second largest, was about 2500.

bbtds · December 06, 2014, 06:07:07 PM

Calvary Lutheran, Perry Township, Indianapolis (near Southport, 1/4 mile from Southport HS).

Most of the LCMS churches in Indy are smaller. Carmel Lutheran is about 3,000 members and St Johns Lutheran on the southeast side is 1600 members.

http://clcs.org/

StlVUFan · December 07, 2014, 06:28:19 PM

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (ELCA), Hazelwood, MO has one 10:00 service Christmas Day, and usually at least a couple of services on Christmas Eve, one of them candelight. It's always been that way as far as I can remember.

LaPorteAveApostle · December 07, 2014, 08:32:12 PM

Interesting--fairly consistent among the Lutheran schedules cited here is two eve and one day, midmorning. Regardless of size or location too.

Of course, small sample size. Still, interesting!

LaPorteAveApostle · December 17, 2014, 11:52:56 AM

Didn't someone post a Lutheran Satire video on here before? (Was it me?)

Anyway, thought this was hilarious and you guys might like it too:
http://thefederalist.com/2014/12/17/3-ways-the-biblical-blockbuster-can-get-its-groove-back/

LaPorteAveApostle · December 17, 2014, 10:22:37 PM

Great moments in journalism (thought you might get a kick out of this too):

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2014/12/great-moments-in-journalism-the-new-york-times-correction-on-the-popes-animals-in-heaven-remarks/

talksalot · December 18, 2014, 11:31:37 AM

wow L.A.A..... I really thought this was going to be a discussion on consecutive winning streaks for games not at home.... THAT was a great moment in journalism.

LaPorteAveApostle · December 18, 2014, 02:45:47 PM

LaPorteAveApostle · December 25, 2014, 11:42:40 AM

Merry Christmas!
Church - Saturday Night Live