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Your Church's Christmas Planning Checklist

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It’s never too early to start planning your Christmas services at church.

Christmas, along with Easter, is when your church will likely see the biggest jump in attendance all year. Inconsistent attendees, first-time guests, and out-of-town family members all tend to make an effort to attend a Christmas service.

So, how can you ensure you’re prepared to follow up with first-time guests, re-engage those who come infrequently, and equip your regular attendees to invite their friends and family?

By using proven church communication strategies powered by tools like text messaging, email, and creative invites! Let’s dive into a few key areas to focus on this season.

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Church Invite Cards: Tangible Tools for Invitations

We all know the holiday season is busy. (Massive understatement, right?) But even in the midst of the chaos, the power of a simple, heartfelt invitation cannot be overstated.

Sure, you can encourage your congregation to invite friends and family from the stage, on social media, or through your church’s culture of inviting. But you know what’s especially effective?

Church invite cards.

These make it easy for your attendees to extend an invitation to Christmas services. Plus, they can also be created in digital formats to share via text, email, or social media. Or even use our QR code builder to include a QR code for people to get information and plan their visit. Invite cards take the pressure off those who feel unsure of what to say and serve as a physical or digital reminder of the hope we’re all celebrating this season.

Need help creating beautiful, professional invites? ChurchInk offers stunning templates and bundles, or you can use Canva for a free and user-friendly option. The key is to give your congregation something practical and sharable to help spread the word about your Christmas services.

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Why a First-Time Guest Follow-Up Plan is Crucial

Once your congregation has handed out hundreds of invitations (okay, maybe not hundreds, but you get the idea), you can expect to see a significant number of first-time guests at your Christmas services.

Christmas has a unique way of drawing people to church. Whether it’s a family tradition, a beloved grandparent’s heartfelt request, or simply God’s presence stirring hearts in this special season, many who don’t typically attend church will find themselves walking through your doors.

And here’s the thing: most first-time guests don’t naturally have a habit of attending church. Even if they have a meaningful spiritual experience, creating a new habit requires time, intentionality, and encouragement.

That’s where first-time guest follow-up comes in. A strong follow-up strategy can be the difference between a guest who never returns and someone who becomes part of your church family.

If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. Check out our FREE workshop: The Boomerang Framework™: Christmas Edition, where we’ll walk you through how to follow up with guests, for how long, and how to do it effectively. Register for the workshop here.

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Engage Members with Church Text Messaging

You’ve equipped your attendees to invite, and your guest follow-up plan is ready to go. But don’t forget the role your regular attendees play in making this season special. You need to keep them up to date still too.

From volunteering and toy drives to extra services and special events, there are a lot of moving pieces during Christmas. And amidst it all, you want your members to actively participate—not just in serving but in worshiping and experiencing the joy of Advent and Christmas Eve services.

So how do you keep your congregation informed and engaged?

Text messaging.

It’s the fastest, most effective way to communicate with your church family. Statistics show that texts are not only read quickly but also far more likely to get a response than other forms of communication.

Use text messaging to:

Send reminders about services and events.
Request volunteers for specific needs.
Encourage spiritual engagement with personal, thoughtful messages.

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Make This a Christmas to Remember

As Christmas approaches, I hope you’re filled with anticipation for the joy and hope this season brings. With church invite cards ready to hand out, thoughtful text messages cued up, and a proven follow-up plan in place for your guests, your church is poised to make a lasting impact this Christmas.

Let’s make this season one to remember—for your church family, for the guests walking through your doors for the first time, and for the countless lives that will be touched by the message of hope found in Jesus.

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