How to Plan a Powerful Christmas Service

Christmas is one of the best opportunities to reach people who might not attend church any other time of the year. Every detail matters, from the message to the kids’ experience, because God can use this service to draw people to Him. 

Here are some tips on how to plan a powerful Christmas service for your church:

Lead the Way With Prayer

As you plan, invite the Holy Spirit into the entire process. Make sure you cover every part of your planning and preparation in prayer. You can do the work, but it is God that brings life change to people. You are setting up the environment for it to happen.  

When your Christmas experience comes, encourage your team to pray together before each service, and celebrate what God is doing. 

Choose Service Times Wisely

Consider what service times make sense for your church and your community. It gets really exciting to consider adding an extra Christmas service, but choose your service times wisely. Here are some things to consider as you think about your service times:

• Ask: Are you expecting larger attendance this year? Should you add additional service times to make room?
• Keep families in mind. Make sure that you select times that work well for parents and kids.
• Know your team’s limits. Plan what’s sustainable for staff and volunteers.
• Be clear and communicate times early and frequently.

Once you decide on a schedule, share it with your church and start building anticipation for the amazing service that is to come. 

Have an Unforgettable Kids Experience

When the kids’ experience is fun and engaging, it helps them encounter Jesus in a way that they’ll remember. 

Here are some things to think through when creating your kids experience:

• A welcoming guest experience for families
• Interactive, hands-on activities for kids
• Fun and meaningful Christmas curriculum that points to Jesus
• A creative mix of worship and Christmas songs
• A strong, caring volunteer team

Check out the blog post, 5 Ways to Make Christmas Unforgettable for Kids at Church, to learn more about how to create a great kids experience this Christmas. 

Plan Worship and Creative Elements

Your worship and creative elements set the tone for your Christmas services. Choose songs that celebrate the story of Jesus and help people engage with God emotionally and spiritually. 

When you’re choosing music, find a balance between familiar songs and new ones. New guests will often connect with traditional carols, while your regular attenders may appreciate fresh songs that still highlight what Christmas means.

Many churches will end their Christmas service by giving their attenders candles and sing Silent Night together. It’s a powerful moment and shows unity in the church. Think through creative ways that your church family can celebrate together. 

Photo ops are another great way to add creativity and connection to your experience. A simple backdrop or themed area can become the place where families pause, take a picture, and remember the joy of celebrating together at church.

Create a Meaningful Message

The message that you preach is one of the most important parts of the service. But it can also be a stressful time trying to figure out how to preach the same message each year. 

As you prepare your message, keep it simple, clear, and focused on the hope found in Christ. Make it relatable and relevant to where people are in life right now. You know your people and you know what they need—lean into that as their pastor. 

End your message with an opportunity to respond to the Gospel. This is the reason your team has worked hard preparing—for people to give their lives to Jesus. As you are prepping, we pulled together some editable Christmas message outlines to help you get ready for this powerful service. 

You got this! Every moment you plan points people to Jesus. Your service has the potential to create lasting impact and lead people closer to God. We are praying for you and your church as you prepare!

Looking for more Christmas resources? Check out Christmas Made Simple. This guide has every Christmas resource you need in one place, such as sermons, worship sets, kids curriculum, creative assets, communication strategies, and excellence checklists.