Have you ever noticed that many churches are closed December 25th through January 2 (or even later)? Granted, many people are out of town, on vacation, or spending time with family and friends. Church leaders cite being tired and needing a break following the additional Advent activities. Have you noticed that the church activities in January are often scarce and the church doesn’t get back into their groove until nearly February? 

Think of the guests and those infrequent attenders who attended Christmas Eve services. What will inspire them or connect with them in becoming more engaged in the life of the church?  If the church is essentially “closed” and/or lacking connecting ministries during January, the window of opportunity for these guests and infrequent attenders will likely be closed by the time the church “re-opens.” 

Let’s look at some strategies to build on the momentum churches encounter in December to boost our focus, energy, and offerings in January.

Plan Ahead

Don’t stop when you finish those plans for Christmas. Go ahead and plan your offerings for January, too. It’s easy to think of December 31st as the ending period for planning. Yet, if we wait until after Christmas to think about January, January will have passed before there is anything in place to offer. If the January offerings are not planned well in advance of Christmas, your church will miss the opportunity to offer and invite your Christmas guests and infrequent attenders to these January offerings. You don’t have to have tons of new offerings. What is one new thing you can offer starting in mid-January that would connect with guests, infrequent attenders, and your faithful attenders? What January sermon series would connect with people and address an issue, concern, or life challenge they are facing?

Meaningful, Accessible Opportunities

As you plan your January options, consider opportunities that are easily accessible, yet meaningful. Not every offering needs to be in-person or at the church. Consider gathering in homes, restaurants, and online. It might be the coordination of dinner groups, family game nights, an all-church study on a relevant topic, or meaningful ways to serve in the community together. What would people want to engage in that would provide them a sense of value, purpose, meaning, or impact? What opportunity could the church provide that would help people start their year off in a positive direction? You will likely need to ask around in your community before nailing down these offerings. Don’t base your plans solely on what your church has done in the past or what another church is doing down the street. Engage with your neighborhood to truly seek out what would be meaningful and valuable for them.

Try Something New

Don’t be afraid to try something new. Our culture has shifted dramatically in the past few years.  The ministries and methods that will truly connect with our neighbors have dramatically shifted.  Even if you try and it doesn’t go as planned, you’ll learn things in the process. That’s a win! Churches who  are stuck in the methods of the past are the churches in decline. The churches who are growing and reaching new people are flexible, adaptive, and agile.  Innovation is not something churches need to consider; innovation is a necessity. While the mission of the church remains unchanged, the methods for how we carry out that mission must change if we are to be competent, compelling, and vital churches.

Be sure to also check out the tips for increased Christmas Eve attendance and the considerations you might like to entertain if you’d like your Christmas guests to return.