Christmas Eve most popular for services

For many area families, part of their Christmas tradition includes attending a church service to mark the holiday. Yet most area churches offer worship services and candlelight Communion on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.

"I've always gone on Christmas Eve, ever since I was a little girl," said Gayle Conrad. She and her family will attend a 4 p.m. Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish in Jackson.

"When I was younger it was midnight Mass, and then it was 11 o'clock and then 10 o'clock and now we go at 4 p.m. because they have a children's Mass," she said.

In the Episcopal church, it's been tradition to have a candlelight midnight Mass, said the Rev. Bob Towner, rector of Christ Episcopal Church.

"Throughout my career I've tried Christmas Day services and I love to go to them, but they are terribly attended," Towner said.

The popularity of Christmas Eve services seems to be gaining. Most area churches, with the exception of some Lutheran and Catholic churches that also offer Christmas Day services, hold Christmas Eve worship.

Susan Venable will worship at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson tonight. "It's a special time," she said of the worship.

The Rev. Doug Breite, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, said the church tradition calls for both a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship.

By offering a children's program, candlelight service and Christmas Day celebrations, there is an option for everyone, he said.

The candlelight service on Christmas Eve includes carols and Scripture and while it has the largest crowd, "it is an intimate service," Breite said. "It's a peaceful service."

At Centenary United Methodist Church, the preference is that Christmas Day is reserved for family worship and time together, said the Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith, senior pastor.

"We really anticipate Christmas" with the evening services, he said. The church will offer a midday Communion and two evening worship times this year.

Past surveys of Centenary's congregation showed that most people preferred a traditional Christmas worship on Christmas Eve, and that likely will be the best-attended service.

However, the church also wanted to offer a new service that was designed for people who don't regularly attend church or for young families. "It's not in the sanctuary and it's more informal," Smith said. There is no sermon during that service.

Perhaps one-time message

Preaching a Christmas sermon does put plenty of pressure on ministers because there is the possibility that someone in the service only attends church at the holidays.

Towner will have a sermon during his candlelight service. "I won't preach long, but there are some for who it's the only time they hear the message, so it would be a mistake not to deliver the message."

Many pastors will prepare a message for Christmas Eve and then spend the days after the holiday in study for their Sunday sermon. "There's a quick turnaround," Smith said. "But there's more joy in the preparation" for a Christmas message. "It's just a natural response."

Breite will deliver two sermons -- one on Christmas Eve and one on Christmas Day -- but the pressure and work aren't too taxing. "It's an exciting time of year to share the good news of Jesus' birth," he said. "It's really a privilege."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126