Loser News

Roughly 16% of Christian congregations throughout the US cancelled church on Christmas Day this year, up 5% from 2016.  While most congregations thought it even more important to gather for Christmas services Sunday, some churches chose to opt out for a variety of reasons.

Mert Walinski, the pastor of Living Hope Christian Church in Shreveport, MN posted a video on Twitter saying there would be no services on December 25. “Enjoy some time at home with your family,” he said.  “Jesus doesn’t want you here.“

Hopeful Life Church in Bacon, TN posted this message on their website: “No In-Person Services on Christmas Day! Take time and celebrate Jesus with your family and remember that He is the reason for the season…just not the reason for the day.”

Though some have questioned the rationale of cancelling worship on the day we celebrate Christ’s birth, especially so close on the heels of hard fought battles to worship during the COVID crisis, others have seen it as an opportunity to make some long due changes.

“We just don’t have time to do church every Sunday in December,” remarked Gus Jablonski, Associate Pastor at Hopefully Living Christian Fellowship in Davenport, IA.  “I mean, with the Christmas Concert on the 11th, the Church Dance Recital on the 18th, and Christmas Eve Light Parade, we just don’t have time for that other nonsense!”

In the wake of the Christmas closure, Jablonski and his team are considering conducting a Super Bowl Eve Service and cancelling Easter services in lieu of a “Pretty Good Saturday” service.