With Christmas on Sunday this year more churches than usual will offer a Christmas Eve Service as an alternative worship setting. Despite this periodic increase, Christmas Eve services have become one of the most popular means of reaching unchurched and dechurched families in our communities. Here are a few general suggestions for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Worship Services.

1. Will the church offer both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services?

If a Christmas service is designed to reach the unchurched or dechurched it probably will do so best on a pre-Christmas date. Many churches will also feature a Christmas Eve-Eve service on December 23 to avoid conflict with family Christmas traditions. With Christmas on Sunday and Christmas Eve on Saturday it may be realistic for many churches to offer similar services on both days with the hope that members will attend at least one of the services.

2. Will the church print a special bulletin or program?

A brightly colored bulletin or program cover lends a festive air to the service. Some will prefer a more utilitarian approach of a simple handout that guides the worshipper. Others will opt for verbal instructions or the use of a projection system to guide the worshippers.

3. How will Invite Cards be distributed?

The special rules that guide the production of any Invite Cards apply here: proof—proof—proof, include contact information, include service times. Invite Cards should be distributed to the congregation on Sunday, December 18. If these cards can coordinate with the bulletin cover and other themes the worshipper is more likely to enter into the spirit of the worship theme.

4. How will information from guests be gathered?

A Communication Card that is completed by all in attendance is one of the most non-threatening means of gathering guest information. Once again standard rules of operation apply: keep the card simple but be sure there is adequate space to fill in the blanks, do not leave the date line blank, explain the card with some version of “complete as much information as you are comfortable sharing.”

5. Will an offering be received?

If the strategy of two similar services is used then the offering instructions for Christmas Eve will probably be very similar to the offering instructions for Christmas Day. If, however, Christmas Eve is treated as a special or an “extra” service then consider the offering to be designated for some benevolent or charitable purpose. If large numbers of guests are expected please remember that these Christmas guests may be very generous if they know the specific needs being addressed by the special Christmas offering. After all giving is a required part of a secular Christmas celebration too!

6. Will Communion or the Lord’s Supper be served?

Many Christmas Eve services feature a Candlelight Communion as the climax of the service. If Communion is served be sure to be clear with instructions since guests may come from a variety of church and non-churched backgrounds. In General Baptist churches the Lord’s Supper is always prefaced with a general invitation for all believers to take part. If servers are limited, then invite the worshippers to come forward where a more ‘self service’ approach can be taken if needed.

7. Will candle lighting be part of the service?

The lighting of candles at the conclusion of a Christmas Eve service is a moving experience especially as one person lights another person’s candle with the declaration “Jesus Christ is the Light of my life!” Then to sing Silent Night as the benediction becomes a powerful statement of faith and worship. Candle lighting supplies are readily available from Christian bookstores and suppliers but be sure to order yours in advance so they will be on hand for your special event.

8. Will creative elements be used?

Creative elements may be provided by members of the congregation or by friends from the community. Creative elements are available for purchase on-line or from many bookstores.

• www.SkitGuys.com offers several Christmas themed video productions.
• www.hymncharts.com will acquaint the shopper with the possibility of purchasing music scores for an entire service including special background music for Scripture readers.
• www.YouTube.com remains an ever popular site for video elements. Just type in “Christmas Worship Songs” and view 735,000 possibilities!