Anyone else going to church for Christmas?

[IndigoIsMyFavouriteColour]

Our youngest is still too young for midnight mass so we are going to a family friendly carol service tomorrow at 19.00 which I hope will become a regular family tradition.

Is anyone else headed to church over the festive period?

Yes several services over December and the children always sing carols/Christmas choral music as part of the church choir in an old peoples home. They seem to enjoy having a couple of children singing.

The children’s services have been very busy this year - maybe 10 x busier than two years ago. Which is lovely to see.

Personally I love it. I love that people feel they can come at this time of year. I love that the "culturally Christian" is so ingrained in people that they come and usually know the carols even if they don't believe. And I love that we, as the church, can show them the love of Jesus by welcoming them as, and where, they are. And if thats the only time we see them, that's ok.

We go to carol's by candlelight on Christmas Eve at 4:30. It's a lovely tradition but a bit hypocritical as we are total atheists. I like the vibe though.

Well, if it’s God’s house, I think we’re all welcome, however often we attend, no matter what certain ‘church people’ might think.

I expect judgement would come from shallow people who believe that appearance matters.

I attend Mass every Sunday, so I will be going to one of the Masses, but probably not the one at Midnight. There’s another three in my parish to choose from.

I'll be ringing bells for midnight mass and then on Christmas day morning. I don't go to church per se

Actually us ‘church people’ pay our tithes and volunteer all year round to keep it open and functioning so that it can offer that welcome for people. It’s not about appearance it’s about action. But thanks for thinking so poorly of us. 😔

Yes we go to 630 mass though. As midnight is to late for my little one. Then my eldest goes to midnight mass as she an alter server. Then we go Christmas morning for 9am.

Well let’s hope I don’t show up at your church then because clearly I wouldn’t be welcome.

No wonder I consider it then knock the idea swiftly on the head.

Midnight mass.

Sitting in our local cathedral waiting for the Festival of Lessons and Carols to begin. It’s absolutely rammed - ticket applications closed at the start of November. Such a beautiful hour of contemplation and calm in all the chaos of general life: I find myself looking forward to it more and more each year.

We might. We don't usually go to church at other times of the year - I'm an agnostic, DH is a methodist - but there's a medieval church near us that does a really high Anglican service at Christmas with incense, processions etc. and I enjoy the pageantry of it and the music.

We never go to a church service as we’re atheists but where we live the cathedral is a beautiful building so take visitors to look at as a part of the tourist attractions.

I’m going to Nine Lessons at King’s tomorrow. Really looking forward to it. I used to take the children to Christingle when they were younger.

I would like to go, but not sure if I'll be able to make it because of working Christmas Eve. I'm a bit wary of the local church (I can't understand the priest, unfortunately!), but I'd love to go to the service at the Cathedral in the nearest (small) city. I'm just wary of not having the motivation to go after work, and driving down pitch black country lanes (including one that's common for people to die after going through the barriers and either down the drop or into a rock face) until I get to the city.

We go to SIL’s Christingle service at 3pm on Christmas Eve (SIL is a vicar)
it’s a very relaxed family friendly service with a nativity, Carols and Christingle oranges and we go every year, the kids love it.
it’s been our tradition since before we had the kids

We went to 2 carol services at the weekend and will go to church on Christmas day.

Well we tried to go to the cathedral for carols and they had stopped letting people in 45 mins earlier because they were full. I would love to go somewhere and hear some carols but we’ve left it a bit late now. I imagine we could find a church service tomorrow somewhere but I doubt we will bother. Will maybe try and go much earlier next year to hear the carols.

I used to. When we stayed at my aunts house we'd all go to midnight mass and the kids could open a present when we got back. The adults had a hot drink, mulled wine ,I think. Then when I hit my teens we'd go carol singing, the year we did Handel's Messaiah was especially lucrative, the up to the pub to spend the takings and then a stroll down to the church along with a number of fellow drinkers.

Most years I suggest we go to midnight mass but either go to bed or watch it on TV.

My son had always wanted to go to midnight mass although we're not Catholic. I relented last year but after 90 minutes in a cold church with very hard pews he vowed never agin.

I shall watch Carols from King's in my nice warm house instead 🥰

I love it. It feels a privilege to welcome new people, make memories and share God’s love with them.

I’m really want to go to one tomorrow but never go to church so would feel like a rude imposter.

Oh please don’t feel like that. Churches love welcoming new people. Anyone who wants to can just turn up, you don’t have to know anything or do anything - we expect new people at Christmas especially. I hope you’ll find your local church and go along.

My favorite Christmas memory as a child is driving through town to see the lights after Christmas Eve mass feeling the magic in the air.

We will go to the 4pm children's mass tomorrow because baby Jesus is put in the crib and is very relaxed, we sing all the carols the children know.The priest from DC's school says it and he is lovely.