Church leaders may not be thinking about Christmas in September, but this is an ideal time to begin preparing for Christmas Eve. Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page offers five practical recommendations for strengthening hospitality, engaging newcomers, supporting local missions, planning follow-up, and surrounding it all with prayer.
Across the country, from campuses to playgrounds, there is abundant evidence that school is back in session. It’s the genesis of a new year, filled with fresh possibilities, new perspectives, and hope for what is ahead. What better time, then, to shift the focus of church leaders to Christmas?
I’ll forgive you if you did a spit take when reading that question. It may not feel appropriate to put yourself in the Christmas mindset in early September, but this is one of the most critical times for church leadership to engage in planning and preparation that can create an incredible experience for guests, members, and disciples of all kinds on Christmas Eve. Here are five recommendations that are applicable across a multitude of church contexts to help you plant the seeds for fruit-bearing moments toward the end of the year:
1. Make sure your website and social media pages are current and engaging.
The first “front porch” someone is likely to step onto is not at your building; rather, it is going to be found online. Whether someone Googles you, searches for you on Facebook, or sees your most recent TikTok dance, chances are people will see your online presence before they ever step foot in your building.
Encourage members and community allies to leave positive Google reviews about your church. This can be done by conducting a Google search for your church and scrolling to “write a review” on the reviews section of the search results. This takes less than five minutes and makes a big impact on community interest.
Ensure your website is up-to-date. If your church has a website, ensure it is current with information about upcoming services, has working links to mission opportunities and generosity pages, and includes some sort of a “what to expect” page that can give potential guests a window into how they should arrive to the church and what the experience could be like once they are there.
Expect social media engagement. Chances are a person who Googles your church and searches for your church website will also check to see if you have a social media presence. If you do, make sure your page (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, etc.) is both current and free from too much insider jargon. If possible, post a video or summary of recent messages to give people a chance to hear the style and voice of the person preaching Christmas Eve services. Check that comments on posts are neutral and positive; if any posts have negative or argumentative comment sections, consider deleting those.
2. Coordinate hospitality teams.
The moment someone drives onto your church property, they are already beginning to form an opinion about their experience. This means it is important to think about the different touch points a guest might have while attending a Christmas Eve service.
Hospitality starts in the parking lot. Consider having multiple parking lot attendants who can help direct traffic and who have umbrellas to walk people into the building in case of inclement weather. Consider having the pastor, a staff member, or a lay leader positioned near the main entrance to offer a word of greeting and welcome to people as they come in—all the way up until the start of the service (and even a couple minutes after if you can!).
Clarity is kindness. Think about having clear signage AND guides stationed for restrooms, nursery facilities, and any food or beverage hospitality. If you’ll be offering food or beverage options, be sure to have clear signage about any allergens or preparation protocols. Have guides be obvious that they are there to help—holding a sign or wearing a brightly colored, specially marked t-shirt can be a helpful visual cue.
Pay attention to the language being used during the service. Almost every church will have at least one new person attending a Christmas Eve service. Be sure you are mindful of any insider language—intentional or otherwise—and consider how a first time visitor might engage with sermons, announcements, and everything in between.
3. Consider a special offering that has local impact (and invite the people impacted to participate).
One of the biggest opportunities Christmas Eve affords is the opportunity to extend the table. Some of this happens internally with the hospitality and welcome offered to guests and congregants, but much of it can happen outside the walls of the church with a little planning.
Pay attention to existing and emerging partnerships now. Where is the local church in mission with the surrounding community? Maybe you are working with a school, a nonprofit, or a feeding ministry. Or maybe there is something you’ve been wanting to start but haven’t had the catalyst to take that step. Now, right now, is the time to lean in. Indicate an interest in making a partner mission the focus of your Christmas Eve offering. Chances are you will be honoring the organization you are called to partner with, and you have the chance to create or deepen a missional relationship.
Invite leaders to participate. This concept has two meanings. First, for leaders of the mission you are supporting, encourage them to attend a Christmas Eve service. This visibility helps communicate the nature of the mission and shows alignment with the congregation. Additionally, ask your key leaders to contribute either financially, or in storytelling. The more “seeding” that happens ahead of the moment, the more fruitful the generosity moment can be.
Tell a compelling story. Ensure that you have a plan for framing this generosity opportunity in the weeks leading up to Christmas Eve and during Christmas Eve worship. Stories of impact drive extravagant generosity. Be able to tell those stories succinctly but with great intention.
4. Get follow-up lined up.
If you’re like me, the few days after Christmas Eve are one giant exhale. All of that energy and effort translate into the need for naps in abundance. Don’t miss out on that needed rest. Instead, consider now how your present self can do your future self some favors ahead of time.
Record a thank you video. Whether or not you have access to a fancy camera, take the time to record a 60-90 second thank you video that can be sent to people who attended Christmas Eve worship at your church. You can offer a word of excitement for what the time of worship was like (even if you’re anticipating that in pre-recording!) and extend an invitation to worship or church activities coming soon in January.
Pre-write thank you letters and extend the period of generosity to the Christmas Eve offering through the end of the year. It is important that gratitude meets generosity promptly. Consider writing a thank you note that can be post-filled with some data from Christmas Eve and sent out to anyone who contributes to the Christmas Eve offering. This letter would likely be sent via email but should go out within 72 hours of Christmas. Trust someone from the congregation, paid or volunteer, to fill in the spaces of data and hit send so that leaders can continue to find rest between Christmas and the new year.
Make space in your early January schedule for a personal thank you to those who have made impactful, sacrificial gifts. Digital connection is important, but finding a space for a personal touch is essential for people who have given sacrificially of their time or finances at Christmas Eve. Consider an “Epiphany staff luncheon” if you have paid or volunteer staff, write cards to the 20 largest donors to the Christmas Eve offering, or pay a visit to children (and their families) who participated in Christmas Eve worship. These touch points offer relational connection and show a genuine, deep appreciation, communicating that you see people as they support the ministry of the church.
5. Pray. Fervently.
There is no subtext for this recommendation. You can have all the best preparation and planning for Christmas Eve, or any worship experience, and if it is not surrounded and guided by the power of prayer, chances are it will be a people-centered meeting rather than a praise-filled gathering. Pray without ceasing, and trust that God is with you in your planning and preparation no matter how early it may seem.
All of us at the Lewis Center are praying with you as you start the new school year and as you prepare for what is ahead, Christmas Eve included. May God bless your work, your studies, your plans, and your dreams.
We love to hear from our readers! If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions about this article, please leave a voice message directly from your computer, tablet, or smartphone via Speakpipe. You may also email lewiscenter@wesleyseminary.edu or leave a comment on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Bluesky.
Related Resources
- 7 Suggestions for Reaching More People this Christmas by Ann A. Michel
- 4 Ways to Make Christmas Eve Hospitality the Pattern for the Year by Doug Powe
- Christmas Eve Opportunities for Newcomers by Cynthia D. Weems
- Be the Welcoming Church, a video tool kit resource from the Lewis Center
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