7 People You'll See Christmas
How to Be Thankful for People on Christmas Eve
Photo by Nick Collins. Used by Permission.
One Christmas Eve after 3 worship services with 1 to go, the Boss took the pastoral staff out for Japanese dinner. And Saki (Diet Pepsi for me). This was The Relaxed-Loving-Jesus Boss.
Another Christmas Eve, The Stressed-Not-Remembering-Kindness Boss (female) bit the head off of one of the new resident ministers for not wearing the right kind of hose on her legs under her black robe.
Which human will you meet on Christmas weekend? Which human will you be on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? This post is about people we meet in the church: clergy, lay volunteers, regulars, and Christmas Eve (Easter?) only folks.
Meet the 7 People You’ll See at Church
The Relaxed-Loving-Jesus Human
Chinese food and Saki on Christmas Eve - this is not normal, but it was delicious. And it was fun. I felt like we mattered enough that the Boss wanted us to have a good time in the midst of leading worship, picking up discarded bulletins, ushering, straightening lobbies, scraping melted wax off pew backs, and occasionally mopping up vomit during the Christmas pageant.1
On Christmas Eve we will meet Relaxed-Loving-Jesus people. Some will be lay volunteers who stay after worship to help clean before the next service. Some will be parishioners who will spontaneously hug people: full of joy. Some will be worship leaders who let the joy of the moment wash away the stress of schedules and lighting/music cues and so MUCH TO DO.
The Oldest Worshippers
They come early - often before the other service has finished. They came early so they could park, freshen up, and find a good pew. Hopefully near where they usually sit. These faithful people know what to expect, yet are open to change. You can’t stay in a church for decades without getting used to change (this doesn’t preclude complaining about change some of the time).
Some of these worshippers will be sitting in their pew without their beloved who has passed into glory. If the death, is recent this will be a difficult service. Tears may be shed. The stoics will not cry. Both will be grieving. But they are here, to worship Jesus’ birth.
The Volunteers
Every special worship service has people who will volunteer to help. They will stay after the service to clean for the next service. They will give up their seats as needed. They will sit behind a pillar so others can see. They will pray for everyone to experience the love of Jesus during the service.
One church, I know, provided fresh coffee (caf and decaf) with Christmas cookies for these volunteers during the clean-up time. A volunteer would roll it on a cart just inside the door of the sanctuary.
Photo by Cottonbro Studio. Used by Permission.
The Parents With Young Children
I am always so happy to see parents with young children at church on Christmas Eve. Growing up we never went to church on Christmas (or in the summer).
It takes love to bring your children to church on Christmas Eve. Grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles are in town; too many sweets; and the excitement of presents can be overwhelming. Sitting still, quietly will not be in the cards for this family. I hope your church will be glad to see this family.2 Provide some crayons for coloring or encourage the parents to let the child play quietly on the cell phone. Just being in the sanctuary is holy.
The College Student
The four college-age men were fussing over their grandmother as they settled cramped into the pew - too many bodies for that poor pew. The two college-age daughters brought up the rear laughing with their two mothers. College-age people may or may not go to worship on Sunday mornings or afternoons (smart churches in college towns), but they love this night. Family, love and joy. They will sing boisterously, and during Silent Night a tear may fall.
The Christmas Eve Only Folks
These people are sometimes called ChrEasters for their twice-a-year worship attendance on Christmas and Easter. They are often dismissed for their confusion. But what if we saw them as an opportunity to demonstrate the love Jesus shows people? What if we don’t worry about getting them to come any other day, and just love them for they too are God’s children?
And we CAN smile when they do stuff that regulars don’t. We won’t laugh at people but we can smile when:
The husband asks the usher for a “Table for 4.”
The older woman wonders loudly after the service why we sing the same five songs every time she comes. “Joy to the World Again!”
The grandsons who step outside before the service for a sweet smoke next to the church.
The paid choir member who reads Harry Potter during the service. - Yes, the book, not on a kindle.
The Stressed-Not-Remembering-Kindness People
Every Christmas Eve some people will be too stressed for church. If it is a pastor or staff member, don’t hold it against them. If it is anyone else, don’t hold it against them either. Christmas can be stressful.
When you come upon someone losing their cool at Christmas if you know them step in to redirect them away from the stressor. If you don’t know them, invite a staff person to intervene to separate the human from the moment. Speak softly and calmly. Show the love.
In Summary
It feels like I could keep going as seven is an arbitrary division. Instead, just open yourself to the Holy at Christmas time. Let Jesus bring peace to you. Let Christmas be a time of peace, joy, and all the Advent candles’ worth of love and kindness. The kindness you bring when you kneel in the manger to see the Newborn King.
Thankfully I was ushering in the balcony and was not the associate pastor cleaning this up. Instead, it was the Executive Pastor who did not order someone else to do it but did it himself - kind of like foot washing.
If you hear a child ruckus, never look back wondering if the parent knows. They know. Instead, say a prayer thanking God that your church welcomes young children. Young children are not the future of the church, they, like you, are the church.