Anyone go to church over christmas?

redrabbit29

Hey, I'm 23, and I would consider myself christian. However, I do not attend church... if that annoys some people then I apologise.

Anyway, for the past couple of christmas' I've wanted to go to church around the christmas period, just to experience it as I haven't been for years, and I think I would enjoy the chance to be in that environment. Call it some sort of curiousity, and a feeling that I should attend - hard to explain.

Anyway, I was thinking about attending the midnight one on christmas eve - that starts at around 11pm. Bit of a stupid question and an ignorant question, but:

1) does anyone here go to this service?

2) what normally happens, hymns, prayers, etc...

As I said, slightly ignorant, but I honestly am not sure of the format of the service.

sethsgran

We attend church but we're not your usual CofE. Usually though we have readings of the Christmas story from New Testament, prayer at start and finish of the service and lots of singing in between. We have our service earlier in the evening on Christmas Eve as we are very much a family church with tons of children. They often come in their P.J.s and dressing gowns with slippers on really sweet to see them singing away. We then have something to drink, juice, and eat mince pies and chocolates. Some friends exchange presents, cards given out and then we're away home

kimnhol

We are not church attenders at all , but since moving to a village with a beautiful church we have actually attended various events, ok they may be coffee mornings and my childrens school events but as a family we have been in a church more times in the last year than in my life

We have been made very welcome and shall be attending the christingle service on christmas eve and hope to make it a tradition.

Im sure you will be made to feel very welcome when ever you choose to go and like us hope it to be a lovely way to start christmas.

Gingernutmeg

I like to go to midnight mass when I'm at my parent's house - I'm not a Christian, although OH is. The service usually starts at 11.30, and we sing carols and there's a short sermon. Those who want to can go up and take communion, or receive a blessing. It's really nice (especially because the church is a beautiful mediaeval one and the service is candlelit) and it's part of 'Christmas' for me.

Benny24

I love to go to Midnight mass at our C of E church. It's all in candle light and the tree is floor to ceiling in height and covered in thousands of lights.

The shops are shut, if you haven't got it, TOUGH IT'S TOO LATE NOW!, and all you can do is sit back sing carols and enjoy it.

Merry Christmas everyone.
x

TillyTrippit

Redrabbit29, don't worry about not knowing what to do - they give you a booklet which charts the service - the bits when you speak are in bold and they tell you which pages of the hymn book the carols are on - sometimes they are already printed in the little booklet - dead easy!!!

We go to a midnight service as well, and like Gingernutmeg it consists of a few short readings, carols and communion for those who want to take it. It really is a lovely part of our Christmas. We are lucky in that our family lives close together and so my brother, sister their OHs and kids (even the ones in their twenties have been known to leave nightclubs for the tradition) all go together. I have a huge pan of mulled wine and homebaked mince pies ready for our return, although at 3am I tend to have to throw folk out as my kids are the youngest in the family and despite having gone to bed at 1am WILL be up at 4am for their stockings!!!!!
This year my little one was asked to take part in the blessing of the crib service as a member of her Rainbows group and the oldest who is in Guides was part of the wreathing of the church ceremony - apparently the last church in England to wreathe the whole of the inside - really lovely service.
To anyone who is looking for 'that something' to make Christmas seem real, whether religious or not, go to a Church - you will be welcome and they won't expect you to make an every Sunday forever commitment. It just helps to have a quiet hour for contemplation and joining in the carols helps you to remember the lovely times as a child when it really was all magic! Makes it seem real to us anyway.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Tilly
xx

Olliebeak

I am a Christian (confirmed into the Church of England at 15) but not a member of a church congregation at the moment. However, due to my job, I do have connections with our local RC Church. I went there last Christmas for the Midnight Mass service (11.30pm) which was beautiful.

We had community carol singing from 11.00 to 11.30 and then the Christmas Mass which was a full house! You have to remember that on a Sunday there are various times of Masses for people to attend (so not as many at each service) but that they would all make the effort for this special one (it's not just that they all turn out cos it's Christmas Eve).

When it came time for the Holy Communion to be given, the Priest offered the opportunity to receive a blessing for those who did not want to receive communion (told us to just cross our arms over our chest when approaching him).

The congregation were very welcoming to me (an obvious non-catholic as I do not genuflect or cross myself) and made an effort to include me in the 'sign of peace' hand-shakes.

I found the service very easy to follow - so similar to the CofE one that I am used to - and the leaflet that they give out is very detailed so you don't feel a total wally by standing when you should sit etc. If anybody else is going to a 'different church' this Christmas, I would say sit near to the back of the church and keep an eye on what everybody else is doing and take your cue from them.

It takes about 2 hours all told, and really helps to 'set the right tone' for the remainder of the holiday.

mary43

I like to think I'm a Christian but haven't been to church in years apart from weddings and funerals.
Don't know if its because I'm getting older or what but I have started considering going on a Sunday morning..........we did intend to go to midnight mass last year but it was so cold,we were comfy and warm on the sofa and quite honestly when it came to it we just didn't want to go out and freeze.

margaretclare

We're members of our local Methodist Church. We started going there 10 years ago and have continued because we found such a friendly warm Christian welcome.

Last Sunday was the Family Carol Service and it was absolutely delightful. DH was asked to read a prayer with responses, there were readings and carols, and in the middle of it, the Sunday School ages 3 to 12 did a Nativity Play. Everyone enjoyed it, the church was packed, and afterwards, there were refreshments in the church hall. It was so friendly and such fun.

Tomorrow is the last (the 4th) Sunday in Advent. DH has been asked to read from Matthew Chapter 1 which tells how Jesus was born. In the afternoon, there's the Christingle Service. Again, mainly for the children, but it's so friendly, so light-hearted and such fun. This IMHO is what church should be all about - getting together with people, being friendly and enjoying it all.

Late-night services i.e. midnight - I can't stay awake that long! But if you want to go, then go. We've just been out, and all the churches are advertising what their services are, times etc. You can't knock it if you haven't tried it!

Margaret

seven-day-weekend

I agree, just go and if it is a C of E or Catholic, the service will almost certainly be printed for you. As for standing or sitting, just do what others do....and I promise you there won't be a finger pointing down from God if you do it wrong!

We live in a Spanish village and hopefully on December 25th will be attending the little Catholic church in our village, as our usual non-denominational Church is two hours drive away on the coast and too far to go there and back on Christmas Day. We will certainly go to Tres Reyes (Three Kings ) in our village on the evening of January 5th, when the children receive their presents from the Kings in time for January 6th when the Spanish celebrate Christmas.

sarahlouise210

I love going to midnight mass ...one word of advice though ... it is absolutely packed !! So if you want to get a seat in the church I suuggest you get there early !! It is an experience...sadly I have not been able to go for the last few years due to visiting and travelling xmas eve, but I love it, it gets you in the mood and is so friendly...enjoy!