Were you disappointed by your Christmas service?

[hopeforhappiness]

It's all a bit sad, really. There was an ideal opportunity this Christmas to focus on the person and work of Christ, initiated on earth at his incarnation.
Our minister, who is a nice lady, felt she had to interpret the Christmas story in terms of the suffering of certain groups (mothers, the pregnant, the homeless, the refugee, the low-waged, the sufferer under dictatorship). For once, I thought, just once, could we not heed Christ's words that we will always have the poor with us (and we should help them) but Christ will not always be present physically); indeed it is right to break occasionally the alabaster jar of rich offerings and worship and just consider Him. And Christmas IS the time when Christ is "with us".
Are we seeking justice for Christ? Have we begun to understand the Cost to Him and His Father?

 

[linux.poet]

I would recommend searching out a new church, one that has a male pastor as its head as Scripture commands.

I was disappointed with my church service on Christmas Eve too, mostly because we sung a bunch of dark songs like "Come All You Unfaithful" and the dark version of Silent Night. The teaching on Luke 2:1-21 was good, with emphasis on the suffering that Mary and Joseph had to go through in order to bring Jesus into the world - our pastor advanced the grammatical theory that Christ was born out in a manger because of the stigma of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. They were turned out by their own family in Bethlehem.

I liked the theological depth to a usually light type of service, but I wish we would have counterbalanced that with a bit more celebration instead of treating it like a funeral. After all, Christ came to save us and the angels did sing to celebrate His birth. Should we not join them?

Admittedly I was also disappointed that there were no Christmas cookies or other desserts after the service like there had been in previous years. One year I remembered that we had pecan pie after the service. It's not all just my stomach complaining either, as eating dessert afterwards is a good opportunity to talk about the Gospel with visitors. (I really do like sweets though when eating with friends.)

 

[DragonFox91]

This is the way false churches are. Replacing or lowering the Gospel w/ fixing systems. Get out of it ASAP. The 'red flag' is going off in you for a reason. We don't judge ministers based on if they are 'nice' but if they are teaching correctly

 

[DragonFox91]

I would recommend searching out a new church, one that has a male pastor as its head as Scripture commands.

I was disappointed with my church service on Christmas Eve too, mostly because we sung a bunch of dark songs like "Come All You Unfaithful" and the dark version of Silent Night. The teaching on Luke 2:1-21 was good, with emphasis on the suffering that Mary and Joseph had to go through in order to bring Jesus into the world - our pastor advanced the grammatical theory that Christ was born out in a manger because of the stigma of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. They were turned out by their own family in Bethlehem.

I liked the theological depth to a usually light type of service, but I wish we would have counterbalanced that with a bit more celebration instead of treating it like a funeral. After all, Christ came to save us and the angels did sing to celebrate His birth. Should we not join them?

Admittedly I was also disappointed that there were no Christmas cookies or other desserts after the service like there had been in previous years. One year I remembered that we had pecan pie after the service. It's not all just my stomach complaining either, as eating dessert afterwards is a good opportunity to talk about the Gospel with visitors. (I really do like sweets though when eating with friends.)

I heard that "Come All Ye Unfaithful' song for the first time recently. I understand the good nature of the song, but I don't fully trust it. The 'original' is a trumph of the saints & encourages us. I think this song is trying to make the lost feel comfortable. Trying to make the church comfortable to the lost is a mistake. It discourages us who are believers & brings into the church the beliefs of the lost. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying messages s/b hateful, but there s/b a conviction to the lost

That's a interesting theory on the inn, the stigma they faced is indeed spelled out in the Bible. The one I can think of right away is Joseph sought to call it off, (& I think there's a couple others) tho if that was the main point of the message, I'd question it, if it's not ultimately about Christ being the Savior of our own individual sins.

What do you mean dark service? I picture a dark spirit. Do you find services generally off there? I wonder if like the OP the Spirit is warning you too. How have they been since?

lol, sorry this is a late thread, but the OP caught my eye

 

[linux.poet]

What do you mean overall dark service? Do you find services generally off there?

I don’t find services generally off there, I’ve been going there for over 12 years. What I meant was the Christmas Eve services are usually celebratory “light” and come with a happy mood, singing Silent Night with candles and eating desserts. The fact that the service was actually melancholy with sad songs, no candles, and no food struck me as “dark”, meaning sad, melancholy, not happy at all.

I’m an “Angels We have Heard On High” type Christian when it comes to Christmas. I loved singing that song as a kid. I think they were trying to subvert expectations to shock unbelievers, but in my opinion that’s the wrong expectation to subvert.

I understand the good nature of the song, but I don't fully trust it. The 'original' is a trumph of the saints & encourages us. Trying to make the church appeal to non-believers is a mistake.

I thought “Come You Unfaithful” is meant to console Christians who are struggling with sin at Christmas and who are feeling less than triumphant. It’s not a unbeliever appeal song as far as I know.

 

[DragonFox91]

I don’t find services generally off there, I’ve been going there for over 12 years. What I meant was the Christmas Eve services are usually celebratory “light” and come with a happy mood, singing Silent Night with candles and eating desserts. The fact that the service was actually melancholy with sad songs, no candles, and no food struck me as “dark”, meaning sad, melancholy, not happy at all.

There may be a darker spirit there, at least that particular night, or the people in charge of the desserts just occupied & it's nothing to fret about

I’m an “Angels We have Heard On High” type Christian when it comes to Christmas. I loved singing that song as a kid. I think they were trying to subvert expectations to shock unbelievers, but in my opinion that’s the wrong expectation to subvert.

I don't always care for Christmas or Christmas songs, really, but on Christmas services, it's completely different for me, & I LOVE singing "Joy to The World" at the end of them! I felt SO joyful at the end a couple Chirstmas's ago.

In the past I've seen Christmas services where the first half is a bit melancholy, then there's the message, then the songs in the 2nd half are more joyful. They try to recreate the mood before the Savior's born, then the message the Savior's born, then the end the joy we have in that. Maybe it was like that?

I thought “Come You Unfaithful” is meant to console Christians who are struggling with sin at Christmas and who are feeling less than triumphant. It’s not a unbeliever appeal song as far as I know.

In church we discussed recently Jeremiah struggling w/ the Lord's mission for him. God's people definitely can struggle w/ faithfulness - although we will always triumph in it.

I reviewed the lyrics just now. It still seems off to me, but I'm a bit more encoruaged about it. It can apply to the believer too, & the Gospel is present in it.

 

[linux.poet]

I don't always care for Christmas or Christmas songs, really, but on Christmas services, it's completely different for me, & I LOVE singing "Joy to The World" at the end of them! I felt SO joyful at the end a couple Chirstmas's ago.

Yes, exactly.

In the past I've seen Christmas services where the first half is a bit melancholy, then there's the message, then the songs in the 2nd half are more joyful.

That’s not a bad model. “O come O come Emmanuel” is a pretty legitimate hymn to start the service. Which is part of the reason why I don’t think Christmas should be a dirge: Christ’s incarnation was hope for Israel, and His actions saved the entire world. People had been longing for Christ’s arrival for years. They read Isaiah the prophet and knew what to look for.

The service I’m referring to had Christmas songs altered to make them sad on purpose. They changed Silent Night around to make it sad. There were no happy songs full of joy at all. Way too extreme.

 

[actionsub]

As a rule, I try to avoid Christmas and Easter services. In way too many churches, they tend to be dog and pony shows for the ones who only show up on those two holidays.
Also not a fan of Christmas Eve services. I hate standing up and holding a drippy candle (even with protectors) while "Silent Night" is sung as slowly as possible.