Live and online, Christmas Eve church services still a go across the city
Some Calgary churches have opted to keep their doors open, adhering to strict provincial regulations on capacity limit for in-person worship services, while others have stayed entirely online since March
A long-standing tradition for thousands of Calgarians during the holiday season, Christmas Eve church services are going ahead but will look, feel and sound a bit different this year.
Some Calgary churches have opted to keep their doors open, adhering to strict provincial limits on capacity for in-person worship services, while others have stayed entirely online since March.
“It’s obviously not the same as being together, but we really have embraced all the goodness we can in this Zoom experience,” Pastor Daranne Harris said.
“We won’t be in the sanctuary together but we are suggesting people tuning in turn down the lights in your home and create that idea and tradition we all treasure on Christmas Eve,” she said. “For people to have a lit candle at home and see the glow on the screen of all those other people engaged in the familiar piece of the liturgy together — and we are together, even though we’re not in the same room.”
The Calgary Free Presbyterian Church will offer both online and in-person services on Christmas Eve.
Rev. Paul Backhurst said the pandemic is becoming “fatiguing” and keeping up with provincial regulations a challenge, but said leaders and the congregation are thankful to have the opportunity to celebrate in some capacity.
The church will allow 28 people into the sanctuary for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve services, with an RSVP ahead of time “appreciated.”
“We’re glad to still be able to meet together . . . We’re thankful to still be open,” he said.
“There are more people watching online than we have in the congregation, so that’s great to see.”
Christmas services will be completely online at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, including Christmas Eve services.
Leighton Lee, priest-in-charge, said both the 4 p.m. family service and the 10:30 p.m. midnight mass service have been pre-recorded.
“We feel, in this way, you sort of keep the tradition, and it’s different but it’s still quite beautiful,” he said.
“Yes, it’s very different, everybody knows that, but in some ways, the Christmas message is one about finding the gift in what is unexpected . . . It would be better, of course, to be able to be together in the cathedral to be able to celebrate together, but we can still do it this way and it still will be meaningful and gives us a chance to refrain.”
source: calgaryherald.com