Where Were You On Christmas Day?

“Well, hello to you, Parson. Hope your Christmas was as good as it could be.”

“It was, Frank; it was,” responded the parson to Frank Jerkins, a pastor at one of the larger churches a bit south of the parson. “Surprisingly, everything I got was something I really could use and everything fit.”

“That's good to hear, Parson. Good to hear. How was your attendance on Christmas Sunday?”

“It was better than average,” said the parson. “I don't know if it was just because of Christmas or whether the tornado that hit two days before, but folks seemed eager to be there on Christmas Sunday. How about your church?”

“Well, we didn't have church on Christmas Sunday, Parson. We got to thinking about it a few years back when Christmas fell on Sunday, and we decided that since Christmas was a family time we'd cancel services when Christmas fell on Sunday.”

The parson stared at Frank. Frank seemed to be waiting for the parson to speak. After a pregnant silence, the parson did speak. “You canceled your worship services because Christmas fell on Sunday and Christmas is a family time?”

“Yes, that's right. Folks seem to be real pleased with the decision.”

“You canceled your service because Christmas fell on Sunday and Christmas is family time?”

“Are you going to keep repeating that?” Frank asked.

“No, Frank, I'm not going to keep repeating it. I think I'm going over in that corner there and weep.”

“What's your problem, Parson?”

“I'm just curious, Frank, if Christmas is family time then what's your service, PG-13?”

“Oh, that's cute, Parson. You know good and well that when Christmas falls on Sunday the attendance is usually down and it's just impossible to compete with the distractions families face. And it is a time for the family to gather around the Christmas tree.”

The parson stared another silent moment. “Are you nuts?”

“No, Parson, I'm not nuts. I'm practical.”

“Well, I guess that makes me impractical, Frank. I was under the distinct impression that when Christmas fell on Sunday we had a really good opportunity to focus ourselves on the Child and celebrate Christmas as it should be.”

“There's no harm in canceling the services one Sunday, Parson.”

“Oh, but Frank, there is. You just gave a testimony to your people as to where your loyalties lie. You just said to your people that worship is not central, that the old lines of John, 'Prepare ye the way,' are irrelevant. And worse than that, Frank, if you want my opinion you just spit on your vows.”

“You know, Parson, to use one of your favorite expressions, sometimes you can be the north end of a southbound horse.”

The parson smiled, “You know what, Frank, I'm not going to deny that. But I'll tell you this: on Sunday, especially on Christmas Sunday, this southbound horse is going to make sure his ordained north end is behind his pulpit giving witness to who is Lord in his life.”

Frank walked away.

Comments

[Wayne Cook]

I'm with you Parson. I was in church in a joint worship service that had a worship attendance greater than the combined average of the 2 churches on a "regular" Sunday. It was one of the most powerful worship experiences of my life.

[Sunbob]

Well, I'm a PH and the Rev had her service Sunday morning. After three services on Christmas eve that were very well attended we had a nice group on Christmas morning. And at the end instead of just the usual words of the "sending to serve" - she had us icing sugar cookies and sent us to take them to the fire stations, police stations and emergency rooms for the people who had given up their Christmas to serve us. We had a great time.

[Questing Parson]

Sunbob - You can be sure next Christmas our church will follow that example.

[soo0]

Thank you, Parson.
You know, my relatives have disowned me because I'm gay. All my friends, my "chosen family," leave town for Christmas to visit their "real" families. If not for this year's Christmas Sunday service, I would have spent the day alone.

Which isn't unusual for me. BUT - it makes me empathize with all those who don't have a happy family to hang out with. You know, people like tax collectors & prostitutes - the sort Jesus would have hung out with. Seems like his birthday is a good time to remind our congregants that Jesus' family is bigger than picture-perfect nuclear families with 2 kids, a dog, & a white picket fence.

[Rev. Paul M. Turner]

Stands and applauds!