Churches Brace for Christmas Storm

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Omaha churches are waiting and watching the winter weather move in. With many Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services planned, church leaders in Omaha must decide to hold those services or cancel them. Action 3 News has already received dozens of cancellations that we are scrolling at the bottom of the television screen.

Earlier Wednesday, we spoke with Father Joseph Taphorn, the Chancellor of the Omaha Archdiocese. He says the decision on whether to cancel mass will rest with individual parish priests. Those priests mainly live in the rectory next to their church. Father Taphorn says if parishioners are unable to attend, due to the winter weather, that is understandable. He says Catholics can watch a Mass, said by the Archbishop on-line at Archomaha.org

We also spoke with Pastor Becky Balestri of Underwood Hill Presbyterian Church in Omaha. There is one service planned at her church : 11 P-M Christmas Eve. Pastor Balestri has contacted the church's 90 member congregation, telling them she will make a decision on whether to cancel by 3 P-M on Thursday.

written by Craig Nigrelli, Action 3 News