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The Advent season is a great opportunity to welcome people who are new to your church. And what happens as you greet them - and after their visit - matters. Intentional hospitality and thoughtful follow up helps people feel seen and build connections.

For this upcoming Advent season, as you plan for online engagement and in-person services and events, ask yourself and your team:

• With our hospitality, what would genuinely surprise and delight someone who engages with and visits our church this Christmas?

• How can we help our guest follow ups to be as genuine, personal and encouraging as possible?

Here are a few ideas to consider.

1. Surprise people with sincere, intentional hospitality.

In addition to the greeters who open doors and answer questions, what extra steps can you take to truly see people and engage with them?

Many families will be visiting. What can you offer to give them a place where they are welcomed, their kids are supported and busy parents can feel encouraged?

Consider meaningful ways to say hello, learn their names, resource their family (give them a take-home piece that blesses their family - could be fun discussion questions to ask each other during a meal, ideas for a family game night, prayers they can repeat together, etc.) and give them all some moments of peace and hope.

Look into having pastors, key leaders and volunteers serve coffee and cocoa, pass out cookies and welcome people before and after services. When leaders take time to engage with people in the lobby and over coffee, for example, it communicates warmth and a desire for genuine connection.

Christmas can also be a lonely or difficult season for many. Consider offering something like a quiet prayer time or an opportunity to talk and pray with a pastor or lay leader before or after services.

What might this look like in your church setting? What would be sincere and intentional? Brainstorm with your team and see how you can surprise and delight your guests and others.

2. Make your follow ups with guests as personal as possible.

Follow up within a day or two of someone's visit, and make your message feel like it came from a person - not a system.

Can staff members and volunteers personally text, email or write notes to the guests they meet? Whenever possible, let the person who made the connection send the follow-up. Use first-person language ("I enjoyed meeting you.") and include a detail from your conversation.

Here are two messages for inspiration (these are personal based on the conversation had with the specific guests):

1. “Hi [Name]! Thanks for visiting [Church Name] today. It was a joy to meet and talk with you. I'm praying for you as you host your family over the holidays. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and I'd love to see you again soon.”

2. “Hi [Name]! It was great meeting you and your family on Sunday. I hope you felt welcomed! I'll be at the 10 a.m. service next Sunday. Would you like to meet at 9:45 and grab coffee together? Have a great week!”

How can you make these follow ups personal? A small, personal touch can make a big difference and hopefully lead to genuine connections with the people of your church.

3. Offer a helpful next step.

Don't just invite guests to come back. Help them know what that could look like, based on their interests and needs.

Connect them with a pastor: Invite them to Pizza with the Pastors (or whatever your church offers) to meet church leaders and learn more about your church.

Help families connect: Share information about your children's ministry, student events or an upcoming parenting class. Whatever might be appropriate for their situation and family.

Invite them into what's next: Tell them about a new sermon series, an upcoming event or small group/Bible study that is starting that they might enjoy.

Here's a follow-up email that you could customize:

Subject line: So glad you joined us Christmas Eve!

Hi [Name],

Thank you for celebrating Christmas with us at [Church Name]. We're glad you joined us and hope you felt welcomed.

Did you have any questions after your visit? Feel free to reply to this email. I'd love to hear from you and chat more.

Next Sunday, we're starting a new series called [Series Name]. This will be a helpful study as we study and are encouraged to [fill in with specific info]. You can find service times and more information here: [Link].

Again, please let me know if you have any questions by replying to this email.

Blessings to you,

[Name]

[Church Name]

4. Plan now so you can be intentional later.

December fills up quickly! So this fall is the perfect time to prepare for thoughtful, consistent hospitality and follow-up throughout the Christmas season.

Before December arrives:

• Build your team: Decide who's greeting guests and following up after each service and event.

• Create or confirm your process: Determine how you'll collect guest information, track conversations and ensure follow-up happens.

• Prepare your people: Share the plan with staff and volunteers, and provide any needed training.

• Write messages in advance: Draft some text content and emails now so they're ready when you need them for your team to use.

Keep it simple and heart-felt! The goal is to share your hospitality and follow-up in simple, genuine and personal ways. Success isn't checking a box or sending the most messages.

We want to help people feel seen, welcomed and invited into a meaningful connection. Sometimes a remembered name, an encouraging word, or an invitation to meet next Sunday can make all the difference.

At Fishhook, we'd love to help you brainstorm ideas or plan your Christmas communications. Reach out if you'd like to chat!