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 I am indeed - always do always will.

I’ll be going to midnight Mass with DS1. DH and DS2 no way! It doesn’t feel like Christmas if I don’t get to church (I am a regular church goer) but quite handy to go to midnight as then going to go to parkrun in the morning!

I echo others’ comments that all are welcome at church, any time, but especially at Christmas! Do go!

Yes, we will go to Christmas eve mass. We go semi-regularly throughout the year though, (children's football matches limit us) so its no big deal.
But for me it is an important part of Christmas.

I was really lucky and won two tickets in the ballot for St Paul’s cathedral carol service. It was wonderful, so atmospheric and the choir was just amazing. I am not a regular church goer but love to go at Christmas

My husband also used to open a Christmas present after midnight mass and has suggested we do this with our children when they are old enough to go. It’s a good incentive for them I think.

I'm hoping to take my 4 year old to Messy Church tomorrow. It'll be my first Christmas Eve service.

The village service is at 7pm, so the children will be staying up late to go to it. We go on Sundays throughout the year, and there’s generally 10-15 of us, on Christmas Eve it’s absolutely packed and it feels like years gone by.

DH, Ds, Dd will go to mass on Xmas eve (early evening)- they are Catholic

not me - atheist

I'm going to midnight mass and parkrun. Now DC are adults, they're the highlight of my Christmas.

We will try to go today or tomorrow. We’re not religious but love carols and the community feeling.

Yes, we’re attending a crib service this morning.

Yes - fairly regular Church go-er anyway.

Been to a Christingle and a Carol service at my Church this month - will also do midnight mass tonight.

To those wondering if welcome if you don’t usually go - absolutely!! It’s amazing to see new faces attending the services.

No church worth going to would make you feel an imposter. You should find a genuine welcome - possibly in a very English/quiet way, but nevertheless welcome.

Remember the nativity scene; two adults far from home, poor shepherds from nearby, wealthy travellers from far away (and the odd animal too). Everyone welcome, rich or poor, stranger or friend, local or foreigner . . . It's one of the keystones of Christmas. Go and enjoy the service. They are so lovely at this time of year.

Yes, we go every year to a 4pm service. A tiny church, surrounded by fields, filled with candles and the smell of coffee and mulled wine which are essential to warm everyone up afterwards!
DS (20) is a fervent agnostic but comes with my mum and I each year. It’s when the chaos of preparing must end and some calm can descend for a few hours at least.

This does feel a but condescending. You’ve no idea about people who you only see at Christmas.

I love midnight mass but the offering in my local town is a bit rubbish this year, so I’ve decided to ‘go big’ and will go to midnight mass at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, I’ve just booked my parking so I’m committed! It’s about a 30min drive away so not too far! I have invited DH & teen DC’s to come but all have declined, so it’s just me!

@Flowerslamp We are delighted when people come at Christmas. Hopefully they feel welcomed, uplifted and reminded of the wonder of Christmas. If nothing else, communal singing is good for your mental health. If anyone is considering whether to go to your local church this evening or tomorrow, why not give it a go. You can walk out if you hate it. ( Honestly, you're not trapped there). Noone thinks you are rude or an imposter. Many people who go regularly to church don't believe and most people who do believe often have doubts/ questions.

Also, you can often fit parkrun in before hand if that's your thing, we often have a few slightly muddy people ( including my husband who's an elder at the church and some of the musicians)

8pm mass tonight, no midnight mass, apparently as we’re opposite Wetherspoons! Or maybe the
priest wants an early night!

Absolutely not how it was intended. I didnt claim to know anything about anyone. But when I have had a chat with people around this time of year thats why they tell me they come.

Taking my daughter to a Christingle service tonight. She’s 8 and usually moans if I suggest church on Sundays but today when we were talking about it she said ‘it doesn’t feel like Christmas if we don’t go to church’ which pleased me immensely!

Yes - my chorister DCs need bringing home after Midnight Mass. Otherwise I’d have been fine with the two 9 lessons services and the Advent service I’ve already attended…

None of us are religious, but we love the music.

For anyone on the fence about attending do go. Try and find a church with an organist and a choir. Epiphany service at our church is on the 11th Jan. The January services also have great music and in the run up to Easter there are some great pieces of music. You may find someone performing The Crucifixion or from Olivet to Calvery.

All are welcome at ours. If anyone is lonely out there and can hum a tune, try joining a church choir. Lots want new members. I think the church is excellent to combat loneliness.

This was my childhood too. We used to open our presents, play the Boney M album then go to bed and wake up late. I don't do that with my DC's because DH's family are atheist and we spent most Christmases with them when the kids were little. I dont have the energy for Midnight mass now but DS1 and I are going to the 6pm service.

We went to a lovely carol service on Sunday evening (seven lessons) and on leaving the church bumped into DH’s cousin’s best mate who then invited us to theirs for a cuppa. It was a lovely evening