Some weeks, when I sit down to write my Chimes piece, I look back at what I wrote last year or the year before to get ideas and inspiration. Like last week—as I was preparing to write about the joys of the Advent season, I looked back at what I had written in 2024. In addition to reading a description of all the activities and services planned for McMurry during Advent, I was surprised to see I had written the following for the December 10, 2024 Chimes: "Next year Christmas falls on a Thursday, giving us a 25-day Advent. Thursday is my favorite day for Christmas to be. Why? I'll tell you all about it in the Chimes next year! That gives you something to look forward to reading in December 2025."
Well, now it's December 2025, and a promise is a promise, so here goes. First of all, a little background. Unlike Easter, which always occurs on a Sunday, Christmas can fall on any day of the week. And each day of the week gives Christmas a different "flavor" or feeling. Like when Christmas is on a Sunday, people gripe about having to go to church on Christmas day, and some churches even cancel their Sunday services! But I actually like it. That's how Christmas got started. It was a worship service, the "Christ Mass," to celebrate the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the years, countless other traditions were added to the day (and later the season) of the Christ Mass to get the celebrations and ceremonies that we know of today—many of which have nothing to do with the church. If having Christmas on Sunday isn't your thing, not to worry. Thanks to intervening leap years, Christmas won't be on Sunday again until 8 years from now in 2033!
As a child, Tuesday was my favorite day for Christmas, because it came so early in the week. It seemed like I didn't have to wait as many days to open my presents as when Christmas was on another day, especially Friday or Saturday. Plus, when Christmas was on a Tuesday, it seemed there were more days to play with my presents before I had to go back to school.
As an adult, where I'm less concerned about getting presents or when school starts again, I've come to really appreciate having Christmas on Thursday. It's the middle of the week. There's no issue of whether to have church on Christmas day (although some churches have services on
Christmas no matter what day of the week it is.) Christmas Eve is a Wednesday night—perfection! Wednesday night is already "church night" for many Christians. Some churches have prayer meeting or Bible study on Wednesday evenings. And countless churches have choir practice that night, too. Since people are already in the habit of going to church on a Wednesday evening, what a perfect time to have Christmas Eve worship.
I hope you will take advantage of this perfect occurrence and worship with us at McMurry United Methodist Church on Wednesday, December 24 at 6 p.m. Like last year, this service will feature Christmas carols, special music, Scripture readings, Holy Communion, and candles. We will end the service with the singing of "Silent Night" and the passing of the candlelight throughout the sanctuary. You won't want to miss this special and moving service. Be sure to invite your family and friends. For your family and friends who live out of town, tell them they can worship with us online via Facebook at www.facebook.com/McMurryUnitedMethodistChurch. All are welcome at McMurry, whether in person or online. See you in church!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Clayton