Sharing Christmas
Christmas is a time to get together with family, but for the congregations of two Presbyterian churches the holiday is a time to reconnect with their church family.
Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, 201 E. Jefferson St., will host a combined 10:30 a.m. Christmas morning worship service with Convenant United Presbyterian Church, 230 E. Jefferson St.
The Rev. Merry Meloy, Saint Andrews pastor, said, “Because it's Christmas morning, we're giving the choirs a break, but musicians from both congregations will be providing special music.
The Rev. Jim Swanson, pastor of Covenant, said Saint Andrews organist Chuck Davey and Covenant soloist LeeAnn Heaton will provide the music as will singing from the congregation.
Meloy said she and Swanson will share in ministerial duties.
She said, “We're sharing leadership, and we're hoping to keep a very informal service. It's come as you are, whether you are in jeans or jammies, and there will be lots of carols and singing.”
“We've done it the last time Christmas was on a Sunday,” said Swanson.
Meloy said the reason for the combined Christmas morning service “is mainly to have the opportunity to worship together. And Christmas morning tends to be a little lighter in attendance. It makes sense to join forces and worship.”
Swanson added, “We always welcomed opportunities to worship together. Christmas does have a lighter attendance. People want to stay with their families on Christmas Day.”
“I don't remember whose idea it was, but Jim and I have a long history of doing things together,” said Meloy.
Meloy said, “We have done this in the past, come together for Christmas, and we've joined with other Presbyterian churches in the community for combined Ash Wednesday and combined Good Friday services.”
“Covenant and Saint Andrew have a history of sharing efforts: combined Bible studies, session retreats and joint efforts for local missions,” said Meloy. “Covenant is one of the Presbyterian churches that provides the community dinner we have on Wednesdays.”
“It just seems like a natural outgrowth of the fact that we've worked together on other things,” she said.
Both Swanson and Meloy encourage people to attend both the Christmas Day service and the churches' separate Christmas Eve services, whether or not they are members of either church.
It's ironic the churches are so close physically and doctrinally because up until 1958 they were in different denominations.
Meloy said, “Covenant just celebrated their 200th anniversary.
“Informally, our congregation started worshipping in Butler in 1804. We were formally organized in 1814. We were separate denominations until the 1950s when the denominations merged to become Presbyterian Church USA,” she said.
WHAT: Combined Christmas Day ServiceWHEN: 10:30 a.m. SundayWHERE: Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, 201 E. Jefferson St.INFORMATION: Congregations from Saint Andrews and Covenant United Presbyterian Church, 230 E. Jefferson St., gather for shared service; public is welcome
