Make Meaningful Connections during Advent and Christmas

Lewis Center for Church Leadership

by

Leading Ideas | November 19, 2024

Soon we will hear “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” playing as we run errands, do our Christmas shopping, attend special holiday programs, or listen to our favorite holiday tunes playlist on a drive across town. For church leaders, the “most wonderful” season can also be stressful as we strive to meaningfully prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus with seasonal Bible studies, worship, special programs, and community service projects in addition to addressing the day-to-day responsibilities of ministry.  

Each ministry program, worship service, and encounter is an opportunity to strengthen relationships among the congregation and community, as well as each person’s relationship to the savoir born to us in a manger. 

Our focus can easily turn toward the tasks we need to complete rather than the opportunities to build relationships with God and one another. Rather than being a source of busyness and stress, the many ministry opportunities during Advent and Christmas can provide the opportunity to nurture connection with the sacred, build relationships with neighbors and guests, and invite people to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Nurture connection with the sacred 

During the busyness of the season, consider how your ministry, worship, events, and communication point people to the transforming power of God’s love. Your Christmas message should not be an extended children’s message or simply playful and fun. While many are familiar with the story of the birth of Jesus, invite everyone to see themselves in the story and to more deeply experience the coming of our savior in a lowly manger. Avoid the temptation to water down the message of Christ’s birth. Share the gospel and invite people to commit or recommit their lives to Jesus Christ. Provide opportunities for people to grow in relationship with God by practicing their faith through prayer and action.  

Build relationships with neighbors and guests 

Throughout the seasons of Advent and Christmas, church leaders should focus on building relationships within the congregation while also cultivating relationships with the church’s neighbors and guests.  

Extend hospitality to everyone, not only those who participate in worship services. Consider how to welcome those who come to the church to deliver goods and services and make repairs, as well as those who participate in the charitable ministries of the church or who are engaged in programs offered at your church by ministry partners like scouts or recovery groups. Don’t overlook the people you see daily or weekly for the ones you see yearly. Make sure that ministry events and activities are well publicized and key information is easily accessible and up to date on the church website, social media platforms, bulletin boards, and in local media sources. Be sure flyers and advertisements include the name of the church, date, time, and location for worship and ministries.  

Consider how your property can be more welcoming during the holiday season with reserved parking spaces for guests, well-lit parking lots, and grounds that are well maintained. In addition to providing clear directional signage on the church grounds, station greeters in strategic places including the parking lot and main entrances so that people are warmly welcomed as they arrive. Engage those who are worshipping online in the chat or via a virtual fellowship hour.   

Share the spirit of the season with your congregation’s immediate neighbors, whether they are residential or commercial properties, with the delivery of baked goods and a holiday card from the church’s leaders. Organize a baking event at the church to bake cookies and package them for the neighbors, then deliver them in pairs or invite people to bake at home, bag their cookies, and meet at the church to distribute them to the neighbors. 

Invite people to join the Christmas celebration 

Invite, invite, invite! Invite people to the next worship service, Advent Bible study, service project, small group, or volunteer opportunity. Invite people to take out their phones, scan a QR code, and follow your congregation on social media, subscribe to your newsletter, or request a meeting with the pastor or ministry leader. 

Offer opportunities for fellowship whether that be a traditional coffee hour at the church with Christmas cookies, or a coffee break with the pastor at a local café or coffee shop. Invite guests to attend a “meet and greet” with the pastor and key leaders where they can ask questions and learn more about the ministries of your congregation.  

Follow up with in-person and online guests who join you for Christmas worship and seek to build relationships that were initiated during holiday celebrations. Schedule a social media post thanking all those who joined in the special event or worship service and invite people to respond and share how they are sharing the light of Christ in the word. Reach out to those who requested a meeting with the pastor and those who provide their contact information as soon as possible.  

Each ministry program, worship service, and encounter is an opportunity to strengthen relationships among the congregation and community, as well as each person’s relationship to the savoir born to us in a manger. As you tackle your to do list this season, strive to foster relationships with the sacred, build relationships with neighbors and guests, and invite people to engage in lives of discipleship. 

Related Resources 

The Rev. Jessica L. Anschutz is the Associate Director of the Lewis Center and co-editor of Leading Ideas. She teaches in the Doctor of Ministry program at Wesley Theological Seminary and is an elder in the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is also the co-editor with Doug Powe of Healing Fractured Communities (Palmetto, 2024).