Christmas is upon us, and for churches, that means one of the busiest times of the year. Every church does something to highlight this season, whether it’s sacred music, an Advent series, or a huge Christmas production with drumlines flying out of the ceiling. We’re all doing something to celebrate the season.
Often, when we reach this time of year, it can be easy to slip into the routine of "what has always been done," without asking what the goal of the Christmas services is for the church this year. The best Christmas services are the most intentional ones. This article offers some guiding principles to help inform decisions when planning Christmas services.
1. Who are the Christmas services primarily for?
When planning Christmas services, it’s easy to say they are for everyone. The problem with that approach is that it gives nothing specific to aim for. There’s nothing wrong with having a special Christmas service primarily for the church congregation, just as there’s nothing wrong with creating a service for those outside the church, or specifically for non-believers. The key question is: who is the church primarily wanting to reach with the service? Knowing the target audience of the service will change a lot about its structure. It may influence the type of music played, the use of technology, and how the service engages with guests.
… it can be easy to slip into the routine of what has always been done…
2. What is the style of the experience?
One challenge in creating a Christmas service is trying to please everyone by incorporating too many different elements. A bell choir with traditional robes, a light show and Santa dancing out of the sanctuary arm in arm with Rudolph shouldn’t be in the same service. This approach can make it difficult to create a cohesive service experience. When the goal of the Christmas service isn’t clear, chaos can ensue during the planning process, and the service may feel disjointed.
Clarity makes the service feel more intentional. So, what is the goal of the service? Is it to create a more sacred and traditional Christmas experience? Or is the goal to stage a large-scale Christmas production incorporating various elements? Perhaps it’s to host a special Christmas play for families to enjoy together? None of these answers are wrong, but each will drastically change how the service is structured.
If the planned program can only be executed by placing significant strain on a small group of people, it might be time to scale the program back.
3. Does our church have the right team to accomplish the service with healthy boundaries?
Holiday services can unintentionally take on a life of their own, both on stage and off. Sometimes the grand ideas people have simply can’t be pulled off by the available team in a healthy way. It’s important for production and worship leaders to remember that volunteers need time with their families during the holidays more than the church needs to have a perfect Christmas service. If the planned program can only be executed by placing significant strain on a small group of people, it might be time to scale the program back.
4. How do the service elements fit with the central theme of the pastor’s message?
Worship and production teams can sometimes get so caught up in creating a beautiful Christmas service that they forget the importance of connecting the theme of the message to all the musical and creative elements. While this isn’t always necessary, there is something powerful when all the elements of the service tie together around a central theme.
Christmas is a special time of year. Whether we’re having sacred services that connect us to multi-generational traditions, or modern production experiences that rival Broadway, it will be something memorable. The more intentional a church is about its service, the greater the impact it will have. Merry Christmas!
