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?

Wrt the church being good for combating loneliness, I also think it’s good for new mothers. Particularly those without a ‘village.’ I used to love taking my baby to church and staying for a drink and a biscuit afterwards. There were always plenty of old ladies happy to pass her round and have a cuddle while I got the chance to eat and drink without a baby in my arms!

Why else would they go though, if not because they feel ' culturally Christian'? Even if its just because they like the music?

’Sky fairies’ type comments are really condescending and unkind in my opinion. Especially at Christmas! I’m not a believer myself, although I would like to be. I just don’t personally have the faith 🤷🏻‍♀️ But, I’m always supportive and happy for people who are, where I can see that it enhances their life and they aren’t unkind towards those with different beliefs. I feel like we should approach each other’s respective beliefs with curiosity, empathy and respect.

I wish you a beautiful spiritual evening at midnight mass and a lovely Christmas with family.

Same to you OP, I hope the carol service makes for a special Christmas Eve and that you have a lovely day tomorrow.

Yes. It was lovely and really set the tone!

Used to. Catholic upbringing but we all fell out of love with the church about 10 years ago Various reasons. We would go to a Christmas Eve mass at about 5.30pm. It does set the moral compass to be thoughtful and be aware of ourselves but the church does not lead by example.

Ours was lovely this evening. All but one carol was by candlelight then finished off by a round of the 12 days of Christmas. Not a spare seat in the church, several standing. Warm welcome from the regulars. Lovely

Ds20 announced he was going to mass this evening. Don't think he's been to mass since he left his catholic high school.

I offered to go but he reminded me that I'd take my antipsychotic medication and I'd likely fall asleep (he has a point). Now I'm led in bed desperately wishing I'd gone. I feel like I let him down by not going 😢

I'd love you to come to ours! You'd never be treated as a rude imposter - you'd be a welcomed guest and, without any pressure, we'd really hope you might come again.

We had a Carols by Candlelight service at 6 this evening. Our church was even fuller than usual, though lots of our young families were away, staying with parents in other parts of the country. If you'd like to watch a service without going to church, our C by C service can be found on YouTube. Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church....

Off to midnight mass in five minutes - ours is a town centre church and we often get some post-pub newbies, some in a rather interesting state...nonetheless they are all welcome! As long as they don't wreck the place .
Midnight Mass is just brilliant, one of my favourite moments of the year. Enjoy, all who participate.

We ended up going to midnight mass at the local C f E church even though we're Catholic as I didn't fancy the drive. It was really lovely. All by candlelight and it was nice to say hello to some neighbours. I couldn't remember if we could take communion or not ( although I havent been to confession for about 40 years so shouldnt be taking Catholic communion anyway!) and there were some differences where DS and I were bobbing about and doing the sign of the cross but no one batted an eyelid. The carols were lovely. They have a choir and a real organ. We had some lads turn up late but they were welcomed in.

I am a practicing Christian and church is very important. I am also a musician so have already played at several events. I will be playing for the Christmas Day service. My whole family are Christians.

Went to midnight mass for the first time in 35 years! Took DD and a friend. I’m not religious but still think it’s good to remind ourselves that Christmas didn’t originate from an Amazon wish list. The vicar was quite funny - still stuff to take away from his sermon that wasn’t directly religious and it’s always good to get a different view of the world!

I'm practising Catholic so just got back from midnight mass. It was really special. We sang carols and had readings beforehand. My kids took part. I'll probably go again tomorrow as I sing in the choir so I want to lend my voice to a joyful celebration. Then I'll be back on Sunday for holy family. The Christmas octave starts here. I love the epiphany traditions as well.

Just got to work out how to get wired children to go to sleep so I can fill their stockings. I've just done all that santa nonsense even though they are too old.

I've been twice today - family nativity service and midnight service. I wasn't going to go to the midnight one but teen DC asked to go for the first time. We are regular church goers but it is a particularly special atmosphere at Christmas.

Yes, we went to Mass (RC). I've enjoyed the cycle A liturgy all through Advent.

We (Dh and two adult DCs) got pulled into church on the way home from dinner out during the week. It was the singing that pulled us to the door to peer in - then we were ushered into to the foyer, they kept suggesting we went up to the gallery to listen. They were very enthusiastic about us joining. It wasn’t long before the beautiful singing gave way to the preaching and I started to feel a little uncomfortable being there, as did ds - so we left as quietly as we entered. Glad that we weren’t challenged by the same people who encouraged us in. Dd said she liked the preaching - the rest of us were very relieved by our premature departure. Made me wonder about dd though - was she just being contrary or does she have the God gene the rest of us are missing?

We went to Christingle Service yesterday - at our church it is so popular, they have three services. We are staying with my DM so may go to the local church here today.
We also went to the carol service Sunday.

We are regular church goers, however.

Pretty sad to go to church at Xmas

We went to the annual Carol service on Sunday and also the Christingle service on Christmas Eve. Lovely.

Absolutely not

We’re regular churchgoers anyway, but I love the Christmas morning service - the kids bring some of their Christmas presents to show to the minister, who has a great time playing with them in the middle of the service, and it’s always a bit “anything goes”. The atmosphere is always fairly jolly, and even those who are finding Christmas hard for whatever reason seem to take comfort in being around others.

My father was a Catholic so us 3 children were Christened in the local Catholic Church. I used to love a good Carol service with lots of friends, not the Catholic Church.. the last Sunday before Christmas.

When I was very young, late 1940s, I remember my father turning up for midnight Mass only to be turned away as he hadn't purchased a ticket! He was very angry and vowed never to step inside the church again.. her kept his word.

Yes we went to the Christmas Eve children’s mass at 6.30pm. Absolutely rammed first time in ten years of going we had to stand with loads of others!! Will get there earlier next year. Looking forward to kids being older and moving on to midnight mass. It was lovely to see the church so busy though.