In recent times, a disconcerting trend has emerged in many of America’s prominent churches. For some congregations, the Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s—a traditionally cherished day for worship—has increasingly become a day of closure. Services are either canceled or switched to an “online-only” format, suggesting that gathering in person has morphed into an inconvenience rather than a vital aspect of faith. Leaders cite fatigue among staff, burnout among volunteers, and the intensity of the production calendar as justifications for these decisions.
While these reasons certainly have merit, they provoke deeper questions about the essence of worship in modern Christianity. When churches start resembling events that need to be flawlessly executed, it is easy to rationalize the need for a break. However, the heart of worship does not rest on polished performances. Christians come together to answer the scriptural call—to preach the Word, pray collectively, sing in unison, and center their lives on God. These acts do not require grandeur; they simply call for presence.
Historically, the Sunday after Christmas has been a time of continued reflection rather than dismissive indifference. The message of the Incarnation resonates beyond December 25, and the invitation to worship does not cease simply because the calendar makes it inconvenient. When a church can only meet if everything is perfectly orchestrated, it risks suggesting that worship itself is expendable during challenging times.
This is not to advocate for relentless schedules or disregard for legitimate needs for rest; rather, it emphasizes crucial priorities. Choosing to cancel services or opt for livestreams over in-person fellowship implies a loss of essential community and connection. When numerous high-profile churches adopt this practice, it raises a pressing question about the purpose of the church.
Pastor Tom Buck aptly responded to this growing trend, emphasizing that true worship can occur even without volunteers. He stated, “You don’t need volunteers to have a basic service that allows the church to gather and worship the Lord as Scripture commands.” His firm assertion reminds us that worship should center around Scripture, prayer, singing, and preaching. He sharply critiqued the notion that churches need elaborate productions, declaring, “If your church is so much of a ‘production’ that you feel the need to cancel worship services during Christmas week to give everyone a break, you’ve lost the ultimate purpose of the gathering!”
Buck’s comments challenge the belief that worship must depend on extensive staffing and technical perfection. If worship cannot occur without elaborate setups, then the issue lies not with the calendar, but with misplaced priorities.
The early church gathered under challenging circumstances—persecution, secrecy, and fear, devoid of the technological comforts many modern congregations have at their disposal. The notion that contemporary churches, rich with resources, must close their doors for rest during one of the most significant theological seasons should prompt serious reflection. If Christmas week is too demanding for churches to operate, it signifies a significant problem within those congregations.
The resolution to this dilemma is not found in guilt-driven actions or an extreme push for productivity but rather in a return to simplicity. Worship should be distilled to its essence: engaging with Scripture, prayer, song, and the community of believers. The church exists not to dazzle or entertain but to faithfully worship God—together and consistently. If that can’t happen without an entire production crew in place, the necessary course correction is clear. The issue lies in priorities, not the demands of the calendar.
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