I mentioned on Facebook Sunday that a local station had aired their first Christmas movie of the "season" that afternoon. Given that most of their viewing area was busy cheering on the Packers and the Brewers, it passed pretty much unnoticed except by those of us who chose to let it run in background while dozing in the recliner.
Ahem.
As if broadcasting Christmas fare when October is barely warm isn't rushing the season enough, I received an e-mail today inviting me to sign up for e-mailed Advent devotionals. What made it worse is that the solicitation came from CBD.com, who of all retailers should be respecting the Christmas season.
In the comment thread on the Facebook post, a pastor friend asked for thoughts on whether or not to hold services on Christmas Day, which falls on a Sunday this year. As Skinny Dan (an Orthodox Jew) asked in reply, "um, you can't get people to hang out in church on Christmas?" Whenever Christmas falls on Sunday there are both staffing issues and low attendance, as people travel to visit family or have folks in for the festivities. As a result, many churches have discontinued Christmas Day services, whatever day of the week the holiday occupies.
Frankly, we evangelicals have no basis for moaning about the commercialization of Christmas; seems to me we've done our share in making it just another holiday.
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