Churches across Cherokee County are taking varying approaches to worship on Christmas Day, from changing service times to holding no services at all.

The reason for the scramble this year: Christmas falls on Sunday. At Protestant churches, Christmas Eve is traditionally one of the best-attended days of the year. But most churches do not hold services on Christmas Day, recognizing it as a time for families to relax at home. Roman Catholics traditionally have multiple services on Christmas.

Most churches in Cherokee are opting for multiple services on Christmas Eve and one service on Christmas Day, with no Sunday school classes. Times vary widely, and in some cases, so does the service style.

Services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:

• AllPoints Community Church in Canton will hold service at its normal time of 10:30 a.m., but Pastor Banks Brazell knows it will not be a typical Sunday. “We’ll have church in our pajamas and tell the Good News of Emmanuel—God with us,” he said. “It’ll be a warm worship and hot chocolate and maybe even hotcakes are waiting on you. Throw on your housecoat and come on!”
• Woodstock Christian Church: Christmas Eve service at 6:30 p.m. On Christmas Day, a family oriented worship service at 10:30 a.m. No Sunday school.
• First Baptist Church of Woodstock: A big Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. that “will be full of fun, music, drama and a brief Christmas message,” Executive Pastor Jim Law said. There will be one service on Christmas day at 10:30 a.m. There will be no evening services on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
• St. Michael The Archangel: In addition to midnight mass, Christmas Eve services will be held at 4 (children), 6, 8 and 11 p.m. (choral concert). Mass services at 9 and 11 a.m. will be held on Christmas Day.
• Celebration of Grace Lutheran: Christmas Eve family candlelight communion service at 8 p.m. Christmas Day service of carols begins at 10:30 a.m.
• Mount Zion Baptist: Traditional Christmas Eve service at 10 p.m. One Christmas Day service will be held at 11 a.m.
• Hopewell Baptist: Two services on Christmas Eve, at 2 and 4 p.m. One service on Christmas day at 10 a.m.
• City on a Hill UMC: Three services on Christmas Eve, “Christmas Can [Still] Be A Miracle” at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. One service on Christmas Day, featuring testimonies and Holy Communion, at 5 p.m.
• Church of The Messiah: One Christmas Eve family service at 5 p.m. No services on Christmas Day.
• Liberty Hill UMC: Two Christmas Eve services, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. No services on Christmas Day.
• First Baptist Canton: Two Christmas Eve services, at 4:30 and 6 p.m., will include the Lord's Supper at both. One service at 11 a.m. Christmas day. No Sunday school.
• Oak Leaf Church Canton: One service Christmas Day at 11 a.m.
• Hillside UMC: Seven services on Christmas Eve -- traditional candlelight service (sanctuary) at 3, 5 and 7 p.m.; The Real Christmas drama (Celebration Hall) at  3 and 5 p.m.: contemporary service in (Celebration Hall) at 7 p.m.; traditional service with communion, 10:30 p.m. One service Christmas Day, 10 a.m. (sanctuary) will feature a Festival of Lessons and Carols. No Sunday school.
• Fields Chapel UMC: One Christmas Eve candlelight service at 6:30 p.m. Part of the service will be held outdoors, weather permitting (dress accordingly). No services on Christmas day.
• Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship: No service on Christmas Eve. One service on Christmas day, at 10:30 a.m.
• St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church: Christmas Eve vigil begins at 7 p.m. Christmas day Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m.

If your place of worship has been omitted from this list, please add the name, the address and the service times in the comments field.