East Cobb churches deliver Christmas messages of hope

East Cobb Christmas messages — *“Every day is a gift of Christ’s presence,” said Father Joseph Aquino of the Catholic Church of St. Ann.*

Christians in East Cobb gathered in-person and online Thursday for Christmas Eve services hearing a familiar topic in a new light.

Celebrations of the birth of Jesus Christ were conducted in different formats by many congregations in the community.

Some had limited worship in-person due to COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, with attendees wearing masks, saying “the peace” without touching and limiting music to designated vocalists and instrumentalists.

A few services were done outdoors under protective coverings on a cold and rainy day. Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church decided on Wednesday to hold its Christmas Eve services online-only after an emergency meeting of its COVID-19 task force.

At a Thursday afternoon Mass at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, senior pastor Father Joseph Aquino delivered a message of hope that is the essence of the arrival of Christ.

“Tonight we celebrate the final fruit of that hope,” Aquino said.

While he didn’t reference current circumstances, Aquino said that even through “all kinds of pain, all kinds of ailments and illnesses . . . there is hope.”

The message was similar at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, which held its Christmas Eve in a virtual-only format.

The service included music from socially-distanced choir members and bell ringers. Rev. Harden Hopper said in his sermon that “God wants to leave no one lost in the dark and that one day he will lead us into his light.

“For some, this season is the hardest of all. But take heart because there is refuge in the Wonderful Counselor, Our Savior.”

Johnson Ferry Baptist Church offered in-person services, and also produced a virtual candlelight service (video below).

Rev. Clay Smith said that “2020 has been a dark year for many,” referencing COVID-19, death and loss, political strife, racial protests and economic devastation.

“It’s exposed the reality that a lot of us are still scared of the dark,” Smith said. “We need the light, and that light is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is God’s light breaking into a dark world.”

Another large East Cobb church scrapped plans for in-person services on Wednesday. The COVID-19 task force at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church decided to conduct all services in virtual format.

On its Facebook page the church has been showing a prerecorded service, and on Christmas Day will be airing a “marathon” of previous caroling performances and other special programming.

Rev. Ricky Ray said the decision was based on the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the community.

“This has been an extremely difficult season and an extremely difficult decision to make,” he said in a video message. “I hope that you’ll be safe and have a very Merry Christmas.”

St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, which has had limited in-person services outdoors since the late fall, led a late-afternoon candlelight service under an awning at its entrance, with attendees and clergy bundled up.

A later outdoor service on Christmas Eve and another in-person service on Christmas morning were cancelled for weather reasons.

St. Catherine’s designated three local charities to receive its Christmas Eve offering proceeds: Cobb Communities in Schools, Family Promise of Cobb County and Simple Needs GA.

Some churches are having online and in-person services on Christmas Day. For details, visit the East Cobb News Christmas schedule page.