It might be August but there are only 19 weeks til Christmas. There is so much happening between now and Christmas; schools go back (UK) autumn festivities, Thanksgiving and more…but we should not forget to be prepared and consider carefully all that you could do to prepare your church, congregation and those who you may invite to gather with you this coming December.
Media, as we know, is a fundamental part of reaching people with our church schedules and calendars and special events, so with it being only 19 weeks til Christmas, here are 19 tips to help with what you could do in preparation for Christmas!
1. Start creating promotional graphics early to share on social media, your website, and in print.
2. Develop a Christmas-themed social media campaign with scheduled posts leading up to the service.
3. Record a short video invitation from your pastor or worship leader to personally invite people to your Christmas service.
4. Design and share digital countdown graphics to build anticipation within your congregation.
5. Plan a livestream of your Christmas service and start promoting it to those who can’t attend in person.
6. Create a unique hashtag for your Christmas service to encourage congregants to share their experiences online.
7. Prepare Christmas-themed slide templates for song lyrics, sermon points, and announcements.
8. Design visually engaging sermon series graphics that align with your Christmas theme.
9. Produce a highlight video from last year’s Christmas service to remind people of the special moments and set expectations.
10. Coordinate with your tech team early to ensure that all video and audio equipment is ready and functioning well.
11. Consider using motion graphics or video backgrounds to add visual depth to your worship songs and transitions.
12. Create a photo booth or selfie station with Christmas-themed props and a branded backdrop to encourage sharing.
13. Plan and schedule email newsletters featuring Christmas service details, video messages, and festive visuals.
14. Develop a digital invitation package that your congregation can share with friends and family online.
15. Launch a short Christmas devotional series on your church’s YouTube or podcast channel.
16. Optimize your church website for Christmas service information, making it easy for visitors to find service times and directions.
17. Prepare a special Christmas welcome video to play before your service begins, introducing the theme and setting the tone.
18. Collaborate with your worship team to create a visual storyboard that complements the music and enhances the worship experience.
19. Document the preparation process through behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and share these leading up to the service to build excitement.
Need more help this Christmas? Check out some of my other Christmas blogs: