Photo illustration by Jason Benavides

Nov. 11. A Cornelius tradition, the annual  community Thanksgiving service, is canceled again this year because of the pandemic. 

“Unfortunately, there will not be a community Thanksgiving service this year.  We began talking about it a few months ago with the expectation that the COVID numbers would have been lower than they have been,” the Rev. David Judge of First Baptist Church says in an email. 

“About a week ago we pulled the plug.”

Ecumenical tradition

The ecumenical tradition before 2020 was held annually at rotating churches in Cornelius. Members of the various congregations gathered days before Thanksgiving for a community service, and pastors from the churches participating gave a message in different years. 

What about Christmas?

“By God’s grace things will be brighter for Christmas,” Judge wrote. “I hope to see everyone out at one of our fine Christian churches on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.”

Cornelius Today will publish a list of Christmas Eve and Christmas services. Please email information about your church services to corneliustoday@gmail.com.