Amid the surge of coronavirus cases across the U.S., numerous churches have canceled in-person Christmas services, disappointing pastors and churchgoers who consider them an annual highlight.
FILE - The Washington National Cathedral is seen at dawn in Washington on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. Amid the surge of coronavirus cases across the U.S., this and many other churches have cancelled in-person Christmas services, disappointing pastors and churchgoers who consider them an annual highlight. NEW YORK —
“The Christmas Eve congregation tends to be larger with a lot of visitors, some of whom have come from parties, and many of whom are not used to Boston’s mask mandate,” she explained in her announcement. Leaders of National City — the national church of the Christian Church — described their decision as one “we desperately did not want to make but feel we must.” They noted that Washington’s mayor, Murial Bowser, had declared a state of emergency in the District of Columbia.
The decision “is one of the hardest choices I’ve had to make as a pastor,” Lewis told The Associated Press via email. “This was going to be the magnificent Christmas worship we’d longed for. But I love my people too much to risk their lives.” “Blame me,” he told congregation members who might be disappointed. “I am the one who will stand before God and give an account.”
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