Christmas is almost here! Each year, the staff and I go through all the services that we are having, figuring out the order of the service, placing the best music in the right place, figuring out what our themes are, and getting all the details in place. Each year, we set a date that we will have all the services ready to go so that we can individually enjoy the holidays ourselves–this year that date is December 19th–we’re almost there.
This year, we are excited by a couple of changes we made in the Christmas schedule. This past Sunday we had our Holiday pageant as a Sunday worship service, instead of as the first of two services on Christmas Eve. While having the pageant on Christmas Eve has been tradition, we have heard many comments that most people can’t come to both services and they end up choosing one or the other and that they wish they could see both. Also, both services are two of our most complicated of the year and having them both on one night was a lot for everyone involved. I heard terrific feedback from attendees on Sunday; folks loved having a big crowd for it, they loved having the choir involved and they loved how interactive it was. We are considering it a big success.
This year for Christmas Eve, we are still having two services–partly because it is tradition to do so. Our first service is more of an informal service of UU Christmas readings and a bunch of Christmas carols. It will be followed by cookies and cider, as is tradition. Then our traditional, more formal Christmas Eve service will be at 7:30, complete with the singing of Silent Night by candlelight at the end.
We always appreciate your feedback, input and wishes whenever we change anything, especially anything that has been as much of “tradition” as Christmas Eve. Thank you for everything you do to make this holiday season so special.