Christmas Eve church services are a tradition with many families, but this year, many churches are canceling services because they say it's just too dangerous for parishioners to venture out.

We can't all be as lucky as Patrick Dunker and his family. "I live right across the street from our church, so we're just walking over," said Dunker.

For so many, the all-important Christmas Eve services are in jeopardy. "Our family has a tradition of going to mass on Christmas Eve, and so we're planning on going to Christ the King in the neighborhood, here, at 5 and I'm sure it will be jammed, we're just hoping that the weather doesn't get too bad before then," said Julie Hefflinger.

She joins many with those hopes, and even prayers. "Obviously I was praying for good weather, but the Lord does what he wants to do, and maybe he has a better plan for everybody," said Pastor Larry Harrold at Center Baptist Church. He made the crucial decision to cancel this year's service.

At Trinity Church, seats will be filled during two services. The 3:00 and 4:30 service will go on as planned, but the 6:00 services is out.

"For this area, a couple of inches is manageable, so we felt like with this many people in town, the number of people who come through our doors, which is about 5,000, it was worth taking the risk," said Robert Wilson of Trinity.

In Council Bluffs, other churches are faced with the same dilemma. Some are canceling services all together, and others are holding out hope.

"I see a lot of churches that are canceling all their services, and I just could not bring myself to do that," said Pastor Jon Benson of St. John's Lutheran Church.

Pastor Benson will keep the 5:30 service for his congregation, but canceled two others.

"Twenty-seven years of parish ministry, and this is the first time I've ever had to cancel any kind of service," he said.

It's a heartbreaking decision, when it's arguably the most important service of the year.