Holidays and Celebrations

For members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, the most important and consistent celebration in our calendar is the Lord’s Supper.

This is observed every Sunday morning as a gathering of faith and fellowship. This is the foundation around which the rest of life, including holidays, is organized.

Plymouth Brethren members do not formally observe Christmas as a religious feast, since it was not established by Jesus Christ or his apostles in the way the Lord’s Supper was.

Even so, the holiday season is welcomed, and many families use Christmas and the holiday break as an opportunity to spend extra time together. Some might choose to mark the occasion with gifts or by participating in charitable activities.

In that sense, the Plymouth Brethren experience of Christmas looks a lot like that of many American families, just with the religious emphasis centered elsewhere.

Thanksgiving Day is treated in a similar manner.

Birthdays and anniversaries are similarly low-key within Plymouth Brethren community life. Families often mark these occasions privately with gifts, a shared meal, or a small family gathering for younger children.

Days of national significance, such as Independence Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day, are respected within the community.