Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Churches look forward to new faces flocking to special services
Christmas Eve is a big night for churches. The reverent services of candlelight and carols often draw the largest crowds of the year as regular churchgoers and those who otherwise never attend worship gather together.
A new survey of 1,000 U.S. adults by LifeWay Research shows 61 percent of those polled plan to attend church services to celebrate Christmas next week. The poll also showed, that of those who don’t typically attend such services, 57 percent said they probably would if someone they knew invited them.
That’s good news for churches making the extra effort to welcome visitors to Christmas Eve services this year.
The Rev. David Freeman, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Little Rock, looks forward to the new faces at Christmas Eve services each year, and he has been encouraging his congregation to “invite and volunteer” in hopes of seeing even more newcomers Thursday.
“We want to help people see the importance of capturing the hearts of our guests and that it’s their responsibility to invite,” Freeman said.
In addition to inviting family, friends and acquaintances to attend, Freeman also is asking members to volunteer during the services — as ushers or greeters — and to provide help during worship services.
“I’m trying to help them see that their experience on Christmas Eve can be a gift to a guest,” he said. “It’s not just about their worship experience, but enhancing the experience for someone else.”
The church will hold four services Thursday — at noon and 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Freeman said the 6 p.m. service usually attracts the biggest crowd. The noon service is something new. It’s for those who are traveling to visit relatives later in the day who still want to worship at the church, as well as for those who can’t drive after dark. The noon service also offers church members who are volunteering at the other services time to worship, so they later can focus on the guests in attendance.
All the services will be the same and will include carols, candlelight and Holy Communion. The noon service will be in the chapel, and the others will be in the sanctuary.
The services will be heavy on nostalgia, which is one reason Freeman thinks so many feel the pull of church on Christmas Eve. Others are searching for meaning in their lives, while some feel most comfortable seeking out a church on Christmas Eve because they can be anonymous in the large crowds.
“They are curious, but they don’t want to stand out,” Freeman said. “Others are searching. They want something that makes sense. They may have questions about faith and they may want to understand God deeper, and Christmas Eve is a time to experience that.”
Members of First United Methodist also will serve hot chocolate and pass out candy canes in the parking lot as worshippers leave.
“It’s an added bit of hospitality — a matter of making sure our mindset is on the guest,” Freeman said.
Freeman said he keeps those guests in mind when crafting his message — much as he does for Easter. The two holidays are the only times some people attend services, and it’s an opportunity to capture their attention.
“How do you tell the story in a new way and capture their heart and imagination in a story they’ve heard over and over again? It’s also true for the average pew sitter,” he said. “There’s a lot of pressure to convey this message to people who are curious or who are searching for something.
“You get one shot,” he said. “It does feel like this is really, really important, so I spend a lot of time trying to craft that message.”
Freeman said he hopes something in the services will draw visitors closer to Christ.
“I think, if they are searching for something, we have to tell them a bigger story other than just what they experience on Christmas Eve,” he said. “Maybe it will pique their interest to come back and find hope and meaning in their life — and find a community of faith filled with grace. We want to tell the story of God, and that’s why it’s important. Our hope is, if they come curious on Christmas Eve, and if we tell them a fuller story, they will come back to experience more of God through us as a congregation.”
Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock always has a crowd of members and visitors for Christmas Eve, said the Rev. Gary Hollingsworth, the senior pastor. The church offers one service, at 5 p.m.
The service includes many music selections and a short message by Hollingsworth. The theme this year is “Love Has Come.”
“We’re really emphasizing that Christmas is about God’s love being expressed in the person of Jesus,” he said.
Hollingsworth said the congregation strives to make the service welcoming, with a family atmosphere with no pressure on visitors.
“We don’t ask people to fill out any forms. We always want to connect if possible, but we hope our people will connect with them … but we’re not going to put them on the spot,” he said. “We want them to come and worship and enjoy themselves, but clearly hear what we believe is the real reason for Christmas and the biblical story of Christ.”
Hollingsworth said he hopes the worship service will offer a refuge in the middle of the hectic season.
“Christmas has become so commercialized it becomes, quite frankly, taxing. ... We want this service to be a time for settling everyone down and refocusing our attention on what Christmas is really all about,” he said. “I want them walking out of there with a holy hush. Hopefully, hearts have been quieted enough that it’s more than just toys and chaos. I hope people’s hearts will be prepared for the next day and what it represents.”
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will have three services on Christmas Eve.
The Rev. Danny Schieffler said the church has many visitors each year, and the church offers services that appeal to a variety of worshippers.
Schieffler said the church is preparing for visitors, including travelers from out of town.
“The presence of the traveler, the sojourner, the stranger in our midst, enriches our worship in a way you can’t put into words,” he said.
Schieffler said he hopes worshippers — longtime members and newcomerss — leave the services feeling a sense of wonder.
“I hope they have a sense of mystery, that you know something really did happen long ago that’s still true to us today,” he said. “There is someone who can bring hope to the world and give us a sense of peace in a time that doesn’t seem peaceful. I hope it stirs up a sense of spiritual hunger. I guess, more than anything, I hope they are able to make a spiritual connection with Christ that night.”