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Happy Holidays 2006

A pastor's work is never done...

... especially, when Christmas Day falls on a Monday.

By MICHELLE JONES
Published December 23, 2006

HUDSON-As busy as Christmas is for most people, pastors are even busier. When Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, as it does this year, personal and family time tend to fall by the wayside.

"Family is on hold," said the Rev. Kenneth Guebel, pastor of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church in Hudson. "But, I do all the things everyone else does, put up a tree, go shopping; I just seem to squeeze a little bit more into each day."

At his church, at 7922 State Road 52, there is one service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and two candlelight services at 4 and 7 p.m. Christmas Eve, with lessons, carols and Communion.

If fewer people need hospital visits during the holidays, that affords more free time, Guebel says.

But he doesn't mind a heavier work load because Christmas is such a season of renewed hope.

"Hope for the world and hope for the people I serve in particular," he said.

At Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church at 12312 Canton Ave. in Hudson, the Rev. Kent Fuqua says he takes all the preparation for the holiday in his stride.

"I've been a pastor for 32 years and a few times during those years Christmas Eve has fallen on a Sunday," he said. "I roll with the punches."

He works family into his schedule late on Christmas Eve and into the early hours of Christmas Day and after services.

"Christmas to our family is not the commercialism or the hype from Madison Avenue," he said. "We take time, as a family, to concentrate on the real meaning and intentions of Christmas. We celebrate our savior's birth."

Now with his two daughters grown, they will be coming in from Atlanta to celebrate Christmas.

At his church there is an 11 a.m. service Sunday and a candlelight service at 7 that evening. On Christmas Day there is a 10 a.m. worship service when the church will celebrate Communion.

The Rev. William Dopp of St. Martin's Episcopal Church of Hudson, says it is hard to fit family in around all the Christmas services, but he is going to try.

"My son and his wife are coming in from Lake Worth," he said.

His assistant pastor, the Rev. Elaine Cole will preach at 8 and 10 Sunday morning.

"We will be pacing each other," he said.

An evening service is at 7 p.m., and the traditional Midnight Mass will begin at 10 p.m. On Christmas Day a Christmas Mass is at 10 a.m.

Dopp said personal time isn't important when the good news is that the savior of the world has been born.

"I find it interesting that Jesus was probably born in the spring when the shepherds were in the fields," he said. "But we celebrate it during the winter solstice. The light (of Christ) comes into the world at the darkest time of the year. Even the Jewish people celebrate the Festival of the Lights at this time."

At Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road in Lutz, the Rev. Gilbert Kuehn laughed when he said most people think pastors only work one day a week anyway.

"But yes, this time of the year is even more busy, and family is put on a second shelf," he said. "These days our children don't come to visit before Christmas. After is more leisurely."

Kuehn says he spends a lot of time visiting homebound people the week before Christmas, a time consuming task.

"I don't stay just 10 minutes; these are special people and I like to spend more time with them at this special time of the year," he said. "All the things I do during the holidays are time consuming. But you can never say you are too busy when you are serving the Lord."

On Sunday, his church offers one morning service at 9 and four services at 5, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. On Christmas Day, a worship service is set for 10 a.m.

A pastor's work is never done ...

[Last modified December 23, 2006, 06:31:52]