"... the Christmas season in particular is a time for family and community." It doesn't have to be religiously-based, however.

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COMMENTS:
*  I`m sorry you relapsed in rejoining a church. As a humanist I know that serving humanity is its own reward without the need for a god belief to be part of it. Perhaps what you were feeling was a need for community which attending church does provide. But community can also exist in any number of the service clubs doing good work for people, the environment, and all living creatures we share our DNA with. Anyway, quitting church is like quitting cigarettes, sometimes it takes a few attempts.
*  So, you are only moral out of fear of punishment. Very noble. And atheists manage to be moral WITHOUT that fear. Hmmmmm....
*  ...  I have to wonder about Christians if they really believe that they would all become axe-murders or Republican presidential candidates if it wasn`t for fear of eternal punishment or is it just another mindless ritual to say they`re sinners?
   *  When people are brainwashed into thinking there is only ONE way to be, all other ways seem unthinkable.
*  Christmas is largely a winter holiday celebration. Why should atheists, agnostics, and free thinkers not enjoy it? It has almost nothing to do with the historical Jesus or with the absurd theological claims that have grown up around him.
*  That's not all that different from the Unitarian Universalist church. It, too, has welcomed people of all beliefs, including atheists, and has been around from the time of our founding fathers (Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin actually attended the first Unitarian service in the world, and John Adams was a Unitarian).
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Why This Group Of Atheists, Agnostics And Seekers Loves Christmas

"For me, Christmas is about family and loved ones."

By Carol Kuruvilla, December 23, 2015

About 900 revelers crowded into London's Union Chapel last Thursday, ready to sing their hearts out. They were atheists, humanists, agnostics, spiritual seekers and many things in between. And they were there for the Yule Rock concert, a joyous celebration of Christmas. 

Many members of this merry crowd were fans of Sunday Assembly, the secular congregation that organized the event. Although Sunday Assembly is often called the "atheist church," nearly three years after it was formed the community has become a space for both secular and spiritual people of all stripes. There are now locations in the U.K., North America, Australia and Africa. In line with SA's motto to "live better, help often, and wonder more," London's assembly has formed smaller community groups around nearly every hobby and interest -- knitting, yoga, social enterprise, for example.

The choir is one of those interest groups, and Yule Rock is one of their biggest yearly events. Sunday Assembly's Head of Music Emma Broomfield said that singing is a great way to build community because it often brings strangers together to work toward a common goal.

"Singing is vital to people's well-being," the 34-year-old told The Huffington Post. "And if you're not part of a religion, and not part of a choir, there are not many opportunities to sing communally." 

*Sarah Carpo @sarah_em
Loved @SundayA_London's #YuleRock last night! What could be better than 900 people singing Wham! ??      
5:21 AM - 18 Dec 2015

For many secular residents of London, Sunday Assembly has become a way to address the needs of those who want to feel like part of a community, but don't necessarily identify with a specific religious tradition. There's been a steady increase in the number of residents in the U.K. who don't claim a religious affiliation (49 percent in 2014). This group, known as the "religious nones," is also a growing minority in America (23 percent in 2014).

Broomfield wasn't raised in a religious household. She said she felt the lack of community deeply after moving to London from the countryside a few years ago. She joined Sunday Assembly about two and a half years ago.

"When things get tough, I wanted somewhere to go where I could feel a human connection," she said.

Shelley Styles, one of the organizers behind this year's Yule Rock, said that the Christmas season in particular is a time for family and community. For her, the holidays bring her strong memories of her childhood and of classic U.K. Christmas pop songs, like "Stay Another Day" and "Fairytale of New York."

"For me, Christmas is about family and loved ones, taking care of people who are worse off than you. It's about getting together," Styles told The Huffington Post. "Obviously Christmas comes from the Christian religion, but it can also be adapted for people who have no faith or lost faith."
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