Churches hope for Christmas donations despite cancelled services

(WDAY TV) - After a spring flood and year end winter storm, area churches are hoping the faithful come thru these last final hours of the New Year. December offerings are often what keep church's “financial heads” above water. But with the recent blizzard hitting us at Christmas, many pastors are praying for a New Year’s Eve miracle.

After a blustery end to the year, area churches are still hoping Christmas cash fills their offering plates these final hours of 2009. The blizzard forced many churches in our region to cancel Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Sunday services. With many churches banking on those final holiday services to meet budget...

“We are hoping people who could not get here for Christmas will be walking on December 31 with large and generous offerings.”

It is not the first time lousy weather has impacted area churches spring floodwaters and closed roads forced many churches to shut their doors and cancel services.

“That is the nature of the country we live in of course, but people come thru.”

North Buffalo Lutheran in rural Kragnes canceled its popular Christmas Eve service and Sunday worship because of the storm. With one day left to donate, pastors are betting on a faithful flock to get the bills paid. Most churches say their members are so used to giving yearly pledges, if they missed because of the storm, they will come thru to help their congregation at year's end.

Tags: kevin wallevand, religion, winter, storm, charity, kragnes