Is it okay for a local church to cancel its worship service when Sunday falls on December 25? Do churches have to provide public worship services every Sunday of the year? What does the Word of God say to such questions?

The Book of Psalms sheds a lot of light on the importance of corporate worship. One text in particular that addresses God’s preference for public worship is found in Psalm 87:2, “the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob” (ESV).

On Sundays, corporate worship at church always takes priority over family celebrations at home—even on Christmas! What we do in Sunday worship is far more important to the Lord Jesus Christ than what we do at home in family worship, for Christ always prefers public worship over private.