I know this seems crazy to say ... but Christmas will be here before we know it.
And if you’re a church communicator or ministry leader, you know what that means. Services to plan. Messages to write. Graphics to create. Social posts to schedule. Websites to update. Invitations to send. Guests to welcome. It can be a lot.
Over the years, our Fishhook team has created quite a few resources to help churches prepare for one of the biggest ministry opportunities of the year. So, we dug through the archives and pulled together a few of our favorites.
Whether you're just starting to talk about Christmas or you're already deep in the planning, here are five resources to help you communicate clearly, plan strategically and keep people at the center of it all.
Timeline for Christmas Planning and Promotion
There are a lot of moving pieces during the Christmas season. Having a plan can help your team move from "we have so much to do!" to "we know where we’re headed."
We created this Christmas communications checklist and timeline to help you think through your goals, promotional strategy, Christmas identity, guest experience and even how you'll evaluate everything when the season is over.
Use this if: Your team needs a roadmap to get everyone moving in the same direction.
Prepping Your Digital Marketing Strategy Prior to the Holidays
Before you start creating all the things, take a look at what you already know.
What worked last Christmas? What didn't? What is happening in your community this year? Are your website and digital channels ready for increased traffic? What's your advertising budget?
This article walks through a digital "packing list" to help you gather what you need and make intentional decisions before your Christmas promotion begins.
Use this if: You're responsible for your church's website, social media, email or digital advertising and want to get ahead of the Christmas rush.
What is God Calling Your Church to This Christmas Season?
At Christmas, it can be tempting to think that more is better. More events. More services. More promotion. More stuff. But what do the people in your community, congregation and even on your staff actually need this year?
This article encourages church leaders to prayerfully focus their Christmas efforts, consider the needs of the people they're trying to reach and ask whether doing less might actually create space for something more meaningful.
Use this if: Your Christmas plans are starting to feel crowded or you're trying to clarify what matters most this year.
Crafting Christmas Messaging That Connects with Multiple Audiences
Your church doesn't have just one audience at Christmas. You're communicating with regular attenders, first-time guests, skeptical seekers, tired parents, questioning teenagers and people who may not have stepped inside a church in years.
So how do you communicate one clear Christmas message in ways that connect with different people?
This article will help you identify your core message, get curious about your audiences and create simple pathways and next steps that help people feel seen, welcomed and invited toward Jesus.
Use this if: You're writing Christmas messaging, invitations, website content, emails or social media posts and want them to connect beyond your regular congregation.
9 Tips to Improve Your Church's Guest Experience This Christmas
Christmas may bring people through your doors who haven't been to church in a long time ... or ever. What happens after they decide to come matters.
This article shares practical ideas for thinking through the entire guest experience, from how people find Christmas information and what they experience when they arrive to clear next steps and thoughtful follow-up after Christmas is over.
Use this if: You want to look at Christmas through the eyes of someone experiencing your church for the first time.
Maybe you read through that list and thought, Yep. We need to do all of that. And maybe your team doesn't have the time, capacity or expertise to pull all of it together.
That's where we'd love to jump in! Fishhook can come alongside your team to help develop a strategic Christmas marketing and communications plan that's right for your church, your community and the people you're hoping to reach.
That might include clarifying your audiences and goals, developing your Christmas message, creating a visual identity, building a promotional strategy and content calendar or designing the actual tools you'll need for your website, email, social media, print and more.
We'd love to help you get there! Let's talk about Christmas at your church. Fill out this short form and we'll send a follow up message your way.