When Christmas Falls on Sunday, Megachurches Take the Day Off - New York Times

When Christmas Falls on Sunday, Megachurches Take the Day Off - New York Times: "Since then, the perennial culture wars over the secularization of Christmas have intensified, and this year the scuffles are especially lively. Conservative Christian groups are boycotting stores that fail to mention 'Christmas' in their holiday greetings or advertising campaigns. Schools are being pressured to refer to the December vacation as 'Christmas break.' Even the White House came under attack this week for sending out cards with best wishes for the 'holiday season.'

When the office of Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia sent out a press release last Friday announcing plans for a 'holiday tree' lighting, a half-hour later it sent out another saying, 'It is in fact a Christmas tree.'

For years, it has been an open secret that many mainline Protestant churches are half empty - or worse - on Christmas Day. The churches' emphasis has been instead on the days leading up to Christmas, with Christmas Eve attracting the most worshipers. Some of the megachurches closing on Christmas this year have increased the number of services in the days before."