Yes, don't worry about only going to church once a year. We are every weekend-ers, and the pews are PACKED on Christmas Eve/Day, so much more so than they are on regular weekends. So obviously, a lot of people do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I like the idea of church on Christmas Eve, but feel pretty sheepish about it as we don't usually go to church.

Lots of churches have family friendly Christmas Eve services around 4pm, in time for people to go and then do something special for dinner afterwards. If you went, you'd be in good company with other people who don't usually go to church, and you'd get all the Christmas music. If you give parameters people might be able to suggest a NoVa church that might interest you.

+1 Plenty of people just go to church on Xmas and/or Easter. If you are in/near Arlington, you might try Mt Olivet Methodist -- they have a live nativity with carol singing, which might feel less intimidating than going to a full service in the church, although they also offer a family-oriented xmas service before and after the nativity. When my kids were very little we just went to the live nativity.

4-5pm Family Service
5-5:30 Live Nativity
5:30-6 Live Nativity
6-7 Family Service

http://mountolivetumc.com/

Water skiing santa

Anonymous wrote: I like the idea of church on Christmas Eve, but feel pretty sheepish about it as we don't usually go to church.

Lots of churches have family friendly Christmas Eve services around 4pm, in time for people to go and then do something special for dinner afterwards. If you went, you'd be in good company with other people who don't usually go to church, and you'd get all the Christmas music. If you give parameters people might be able to suggest a NoVa church that might interest you.

We are going ice skating and then to dinner and dessert and a Christmas movie at home afterwards

We make hot chocolate to take in the car and drive around and look at Christmas lights after dinner. Everyone in their pajamas

Drive through neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights?

Anonymous wrote:If you like the idea of church, then go to church. You won't be the only people there who don't usually go to church. Find a service near you with nice music and enjoy.

Agree. It's the biggest time for non-church goers to show up. No one will be looking at you. Plus you might like it. I am not particularly religious, but I go most Sundays with my DW and kids and I actually find it to be a quiet break in the middle of a usually hectic weekend.

We always go out to an early dinner (The Melting Pot) and then come home and get in jammies.

Kennedy Center has a few Christmas Eve happenings, but maybe already sold out. By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, we're exhausted with the children's concerts and recitals, so we don't go to those. Messiah sing-alongs etc will happen in a few years.

We attend Mass down at the Basilica, the only time we step foot in a church because DH is atheist. I go to renew my spiritual roots

We have a quiet and special dinner afterwards just the four of us. Christmas Day is loud and rambunctious.

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean when you say you don't have family here, aren't you already with your fAmily - husband, kids, sister, mother?

Mom and Sis are just visiting. Back home we always spent Christmas Eve with 20-30 relatives. Lots of kids, more fun. We'll be missing that this year.

If you like the idea of church, then go to church. You won't be the only people there who don't usually go to church. Find a service near you with nice music and enjoy.

We are alone Christmas Eve, and I'm cooking christmas stollen for the next day (son loves to cook). Eating a special dinner. Opening last advent calendar gift. I might let him open one more gift that evening, since we are alone for the first time this year. Watch old Christmas cartoons like Rudolph and Charlie Brown.

If we hadn't done it already, I'd go drive through the Winter Lights in Gaithersburg. I'm sure there is something similar where you are.

I think we may also go see the train exhibit inside at Brookside Gardens, but that closes at 5pm I think. But that's a Christmasy thing, too.

What do you mean when you say you don't have family here, aren't you already with your fAmily - husband, kids, sister, mother?

It will be me, DH, kids age 4 and 7. My mom and college age sister will be staying with us. We don't have family here. I like the idea of church on Christmas Eve, but feel pretty sheepish about it as we don't usually go to church. I think it might be boring for us to just be home.

Any place we might consider for Christmas Eve? I love Christmas music, or something social, or something with food - whatever. Any ideas? We are in NoVa.