The month of December is one of the most exciting months of the year thanks to the holidays. Christmas is in full swing from the decor retail stores to the music on the radio. However, the Christmas season is the time for churches to truly shine. After all, according to the churches, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” During this busier time of the year, it’s important that you come up with strategies and plans to help your church thrive.
Your church is going to respond differently to the holidays than retail stores, for example. You can’t just throw up a few Christmas trees and play Christmas songs on the radio. While these are great steps to take, you also want to be sure you are setting up extra opportunities to bring people to the church and to reach out to your community during this busy time. Christmas originally started as a holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ, so enjoy the opportunity to recenter the season in that celebration. Here are some other tips and tricks to help your church prepare for the holidays.
Decorate for the holidays.
While decor isn’t everything, it certainly is important. Plus, it’s just plain fun to put up Christmas decor and line your tree with ornaments and holiday lights. You can even high professional Christmas decorating services to help get your church set up for the holiday season the right way.
From Christmas light installers to garland lining the sanctuary to wreaths on every door, it’s good to utilize a design consultant with years of experience. You can even create holiday decor that centers on Christian brands and needs. Show people that you want to have fun with the season and create a true celebration with your decor.
Hold special events to celebrate the reason for the season.
Christmas is a great way to evangelize and bring people into fellowship in your congregation. Outside of your regular church services, consider hosting some special events. These don’t all have to be centered around sharing Bible stories either. Enjoy togetherness with a party to decorate gingerbread houses or Christmas cookies. Hold a food drive or gift wrapping session. Bring people together to decorate your Christmas trees with ribbons and ornaments. The church is all about creating community and enjoying togetherness and the holiday season is the perfect opportunity to host events that do just that.
Anticipate extra guests for Christmas services.
Some Christians are more consistent with visiting church than others. In fact, some guests only come to service on Christmas and Easter. This means you need to be prepared for extra people attending your services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It’s up to you to anticipate these extra needs. Start by scheduling a few additional times for people to come worship.
Make sure you have the communion supplies and other items you’ll need for a larger congregation. Be sure to create a welcoming environment for people who are looking for that kind of community. This can be a great way to reach new congregants and encourage them wherever they are.
Select a sermon series.
During every season in the church, your pastor is responsible for exploring a certain sermon series. The Christmas season is clearly all about the moments leading up to Jesus’s birth. As you explore these passages in the Bible, think of new ways to explore old topics and inspire your congregation with your sermon series.
Give back in extra ways.
The holiday season is a great time to volunteer and give back to your local community. Consider starting a gift drive or set up volunteering opportunities for your congregation during this time. This can help people find the spirit of the Lord while making a real difference.
