Christmas Church Communications Plan: A 6-Week Timeline for Announcements, Email, Social, and Text

Christmas is your biggest opportunity to reach new people. It's also the easiest to fumble.

Every year, churches scramble: last-minute graphics, conflicting service times in different places, that one event nobody remembered to promote. By Christmas Eve, the staff is exhausted and half the congregation still isn't sure what time the candlelight service starts.

Here's the 6-week communications plan that keeps everything coordinated.

Week 6 (Early November): Set the Foundation

Nothing goes public this week. This is planning.

Lock down the details:

• All Christmas service dates, times, and locations
• Any special events: Christmas Eve, living nativity, kids program, cantata
• What's different from last year (new service time? different venue?)

Create a master document:

One place with every detail. Service times. Event descriptions. Registration links. Contact people. Everyone on staff should reference this document—not their memory.

Assign responsibilities:

• Who's creating the bulletin content?
• Who's designing graphics?
• Who's writing email copy?
• Who's posting to social media?

Don't assume. Assign.

Start the design work:

Graphics, bulletin inserts, social templates, invite cards. These take longer than you think. Start now so you're not rushing in December.

This week is invisible to the congregation. But it determines whether the next five weeks go smoothly.

Week 5: Internal Launch

Your people should know before the public does.

Staff and key volunteers first:

Brief them on the full Christmas plan. They'll get questions—they should have answers.

Announce to the congregation:

This is the save-the-dates announcement. You're not giving every detail yet. Just creating awareness.

Bulletin:

"Christmas is coming! Mark your calendars for Christmas Eve services at 4pm, 6pm, and 11pm."

Email:

A brief mention in the newsletter section. Not the hero image—that comes later.

Social:

One save-the-date post. Simple graphic with dates. "More details coming soon."

Order invite cards:

If you use physical invite cards, order them now. Or finalize the design for printing.

The goal: your congregation knows Christmas is coming and can start thinking about who to invite.

Week 4: Public Launch

Full announcement. All the details, everywhere.

Bulletin:

Dedicated section or insert with complete information:

• All service times
• Special events
• Kids programming
• Any registration requirements

Email:

Hero section—the main thing in your newsletter. Include:

• What's happening
• When it's happening
• Who it's for
• What to do next (register, save the date, invite someone)

Social:

Dedicated announcement post. Graphics with all the details. Pin it if your platform allows.

Website:

Update your Christmas/holiday page. This is where you'll direct people. Make sure it's accurate and complete.

Invite materials:

Make cards available in the lobby. Post shareable graphics in your email and on social.

The message this week:

"Here's what's happening. Start inviting your friends and family."

Week 3: Invitation Push

You've announced the what and when. Now focus on the who.

The shift: equipping your congregation to be your marketing team.

Bulletin:

"Christmas is 3 weeks away. Who are you inviting? Grab invite cards from the lobby."

Email:

Story-driven content. Why Christmas services matter. A testimony from last year—someone who came for the first time and found something meaningful.

Include a link to downloadable digital invites: shareable graphics members can text or post.

Social:

Engagement-focused posts:

• "Who are you inviting to Christmas Eve?"
• Shareable graphics optimized for Stories
• Behind-the-scenes prep photos

From the stage:

Pastoral encouragement: "Christmas is one of the best times to invite someone. Think of one person you could invite this year."

The mindset:

You're not trying to get more people to see your promotions. You're trying to get your people to promote for you. One personal invitation beats a hundred social posts.

Week 2: Logistics and Reminders

Answer every practical question before people have to ask.

Bulletin:

Detailed logistics:

• Service times (again—repetition matters)
• Childcare availability by service
• Parking (especially if it's complicated)
• Doors open at [time]

Email:

A logistics-focused email with a clear schedule:

Christmas Eve Services
- 4:00pm — Family service (childcare for 0-3)
- 6:00pm — Traditional service (childcare for 0-3)
- 11:00pm — Candlelight service (no childcare)


Arrive 15 minutes early. Overflow parking is in the north lot.

Social:

Countdown posts. "One week until Christmas Eve!"

Behind-the-scenes content: decorating, rehearsals, volunteers prepping. This builds anticipation.

Text (if you use it):

One message:

"Christmas services are next week! Invite someone: [link to details]"

Website:

Double-check everything. Make sure the event page is complete, links work, and times are accurate. Someone will check your website on Christmas Eve morning.

Week 1: Christmas Week

Final push. This is the home stretch.

Sunday before Christmas:

Last announcements. Invite cards in hand. Final encouragement: "This is your chance—who will you bring?"

If Christmas Eve is mid-week, this Sunday is your last in-person touchpoint.

Monday through Wednesday:

Social posts daily:

• Countdown graphics
• "See you soon!"
• Reminders of service times
• Staff/volunteer highlight posts

Christmas Eve day:

• Morning: "See you tonight!" post across all platforms
• Text to registered attendees: "Can't wait to see you at [time]. Doors open at [time]."
• Email: if you haven't sent a reminder this week, send a short one

Christmas Day:

A simple gratitude post. "Thank you for celebrating with us. Merry Christmas."

No sales. No promotion. Just genuine thanks.

Day after:

Thank-you content:

• Highlight photos and video clips
• Attendance numbers (if you share those)
• "We're so grateful you were with us"

Email:

Either same-day or a couple days later: a thoughtful recap. Photos. A brief message from the pastor. "Thank you for being part of this."

After Christmas: The Follow-Up

The week after Christmas matters. Don't disappear.

Visitor follow-up:

Treat Christmas visitors like any first-time visitor—but move faster. The window is short.

• Same-day or next-day text: "Thanks for joining us! We'd love to see you again."
• Email welcome sequence: start immediately
• Personal follow-up if you have capacity

Share the content:

Photos and video from services. People who couldn't attend want to see what they missed. Share on social and in your post-Christmas email.

What's next messaging:

January feels like a void after Christmas. Fill it.

• "Our new sermon series starts January 5"
• "Small groups launch this month"
• "Join us this Sunday"

Connect Christmas momentum to a January on-ramp.

New Year tie-in:

Fresh start messaging works. "New year, new beginning. We'd love to walk with you."

The Communications Calendar

Here's the 6-week rhythm:

Common Mistakes

If you're just announcing Christmas services two weeks before, you've missed weeks of invitation momentum.

The bulletin says 4pm. The website says 5pm. The slide says "evening." Pick one truth and put it everywhere.

You worked for six weeks to get them there. Don't abandon them on December 26.

The week between Christmas and New Year's matters. Keep communicating.

Six weeks. Clear messaging. Coordinated channels.

That's how you make the most of your biggest outreach opportunity of the year.