MOUNT VERNON — At this time of year with Christmas less than a week away, one of the phrases we often hear is “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Dec. 25 happens to fall on a Sunday this year, the day of the week when many people normally attend church services.
So are local churches expecting their members to attend church service and honor “the reason for the season?” Or is it considered permissible to not attend services or not even conduct services in order to be with family on this day?
Trinity Assembly of God in Mount Vernon is one church which has decided to not have a service on Christmas Day.
“For the first time ever, we are shifting and having only a Christmas Eve service,” said pastor Don Matolyak. Much of the congregation at Trinity is young with many not being native to the area, explained Matolyak. “We had a low attendance when Christmas fell on a Sunday previously. This gives them the chance to be with their families,” he said. “We’ll try this once and see how it goes.”
The majority of churches around Knox County have decided to stick with their plans for church services on Christmas Day with some making adjustments to their schedule of services.
Pastors at many churches have said it was not considered to cancel Sunday morning services.”
