Leave Home for Christmas
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 KJV).
Rev. Dr. Owen K Ross is the director of multiplication for the Horizon Texas Conference
Christmas is a time for the church to share the with the world how God has come to us. While campaigns like “Home for Christmas” can encourage people to come to church in the Christmas season, Christ actually left his home for Christmas to come for us. How might the church follow the example of Christ and leave home to go to the people this Christmas season?
Go to Invite
Go where people are. Don’t just find ways to invite people who are already in your church for meetings, dayschools or food pantries – go and let the community know how your church is celebrating the glory of the Word becoming flesh. Find ways to equip the congregation to invite their friends, families, neighbors and connections. With so many people spending so many hours online, invest in online advertisements and invitations that congregants will want to share on their pages. Also, don’t give up on organizing congregants to go to homes through mailers, door hangers or old-fashioned door knocking.
Christmas Activities in the Community
Go caroling! The congregation of Christ’s Foundry United Methodist Mission processes through apartment complexes and neighborhoods as part of the Posada tradition to invite neighbors to gather into homes before Christmas. Have Christmas season service opportunities in which the community is invited to participate.
Alternative Venues for Christmas Services
Hold a Christmas celebration, service or concert outside of the church building in parks or other community spaces where people gather. FUMC Coppell has held worship and a Christmas concert in a large new business and residential development south of the church.
Capture Information, Follow Up and Hand Off
For any large event, the church should always seek to:
- Capture contact information that people are willing to share. This can be done through registration, by checking in online or by encouraging people to check-in on social media. Think about setting up a photo booth with a hashtag for the church or event.
- Follow-up on those contacts. Deliver a small gift to those who provide their address. Call and text people who give you their phone numbers. Send a personalized email or a direct message. Find ways to connect with them. In the follow-up, be sure to ask how the church can be praying for them and supporting them, as well as how the church can help them use their gifts and talents.
- Hand-off for the next event or activity at the event and in the follow-up. The hand-off can be for a new study, a new sermon series, a new class, an upcoming event or service project. The idea is for people to leave with a reason and a plan to come back.
While we want to continue to invite people to church in all seasons, let us be sure and follow the example of Emanuel (Christ with us) and go to dwell with the people where the people are so that they may know of the One who has come to them at Christmas.
Published: Monday, December 2, 2024