The Christmas Eve Opportunity

On December 24th the followers of Jesus will have one of the most potent opportunities for connecting with people who have yet to meet Jesus. Unfortunately, each year on December 24th far too many churches are at the point of being the least prepared to make those connections. This opportunity too often missed happens for those congregations who offer Christmas Eve services. Christmas is one of those occasions during which people who have no faith relationship are likely to venture into places of worship simply because it seems to be the right thing to do during the holiday. Church-goers, however, tend to be so focused on Christmas Eve worship as being a part of their own holiday traditions, that they miss this chance to provide radical hospitality to people who are seeking at some level.

Just a few simple steps and a few obedient people could maximize this opportunity to light a fire in disciple-making. If you are a part of a worshipping congregation and you will be in worship on Christmas Eve, consider doing any of the following:

1. If your church has a registration of attendance process during weekend worship, make
sure it happens on Christmas Eve as well.
2. Volunteer to be a greeter before the service starts. Introduce yourself to anyone you
don't know. Keep a notepad with you and write down names.
3. Before worship starts and after it is over, look around you and note anyone who is new
to you. Introduce yourself, thank him/her/them for coming, and remember names.
4. If the church doesn't have a process for doing this, you make sure that hand-written
thank-you notes are sent to first time guests on Christmas Eve. Invite them to return
for something upcoming, such as Watch Night services on New Year's Eve, or baptism
renewal on the second Sunday in January.

It just takes some attentiveness and commitment to turn Christmas Eve from an opportunity annually missed to the beginning of the discipleship pathway for someone.

I'll see you around the next bend in the river.