What do you do when Christmas falls on a Sunday?

If you have not noticed yet, December 25 falls on a Sunday this year.  So the question is, what will your family do on Christmas morning?  How will corporate worship fit into your celebration?

Christmas morning is always a special time for a family, especially when you have young children like I do.  The excitement of entering the living room to open presents are some of the greatest memories a child has.  On Christmas morning our family has the tradition of finishing the advent calendar (we read the Christmas story and place baby Jesus in the manger), opening presents, and then I cook waffles for the family.  After a couple of hours of enjoying the presents we hop in the van and drive to see family for the evening.  However, in order to worship with the church, we will need to modify our normal Christmas morning traditions this year.

Our church will gather at 10:15 on Christmas morning for our weekly gathering for corporate worship (we will not have Sunday school).  The temptation will be strong to skip worship that week in favor of presents and family.  Let me encourage you to decide ahead of time what your plans for Sunday morning will be and make them known to your family so there are no surprises.  Parents, this is particularly important with your children.  Let them know the night before, "We will be going to worship with the church tomorrow, so in the morning you can play with your new presents until 9:00.  Then we are all going to get dressed and go celebrate the Lord with our church family."

Here are several reasons to make corporate worship a priority on Christmas morning:

• It is a great opportunity to teach the family about the priority of worship.  That morning we will be singing Christmas songs and the sermon will be on the birth of Jesus.  What better way to celebrate Christmas than by taking time to worship the Lord as a family.
• It is good for your soul to remember the Lord is first in priority.  Gathering with the church for worship helps to protect one's heart from materialism.   Christmas can be an incredibly selfish and hedonistic day.  Combat these temptations by corporately reflecting on the purpose of the incarnation of the Son of God.
• It is a great opportunity to encourage the church.   Consider the role that your church family has in your life and celebrate the Savior with them.  Remember that Christmas Day is lonely for many.  You might be the one whom your lonely brother or sister needs to see that morning.
• It is a special day in our culture to invite non-believers to worship.  Many people are more open to attending worship on Christmas Day.  Invite someone to attend with you.  In our service they will hear the gospel proclaimed - guaranteed.
• The Lord's day trumps Christmas Day.  It was the practice of the New Testament church to gather weekly on the first day of the week for corporate worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Revelation 1:10).  This is the practice of our church.  Unless providentially hindered, our commitment should be to meet for worship. 

Let's all plan to join together joyfully and expectantly Christmas morning with our church.