We are well into December now and I am sure you have everything in place for the various events, services and activities happening at your church. However, I would like to encourage you not to forget about utilising social media and your digital platforms to help share your message.
Christmas is one of the most significant seasons in the church calendar, offering an abundance of opportunities to connect with your congregation and wider community. Whether it’s a moving sermon, a carol service where community gathers or a festive outreach project, every piece of content your church creates can have a broader impact if repurposed and shared effectively.
Here are some practical tips to help you maximise the reach and life of your Christmas content:
1. Record and Repurpose Your Sermons
Capture the Message
Record your Christmas sermons—either audio or video—and make them available online for those who couldn’t attend.
Create Bite Sized Content
Break down key points into short video clips or shareable quotes for social media.
Write a Blog
Turn the sermon into a blog post, expanding on its key themes for those who prefer to read or revisit the message in their own time.
2.Share Highlights from Events and Services
Photos and Videos
Capture high quality photos and short videos during events like carol services, nativity plays, or community gatherings. Use these visuals to share the joy and spirit of the season on social media.
Event Recaps
Post an event highlight reel with captions summarising the impact of the service. For example, “Our church was full with our community who joined us for our Candlelight Service, filling the night with worship and hope!”
Testimonials
Collect and share brief quotes or testimonies from attendees about how the event impacted them. This adds a personal touch and encourages others to engage with your church.
3. Leverage Newsletters for Connection
Storytelling
Use your church newsletter to tell the stories behind the events. Highlight volunteers, share how funds were used, or showcase the outreach impact of a Christmas food bank collection.
Link to More Content
Include links to videos, photo galleries, or blog posts about the events. Where appropriate, encourage audiences to share the newsletter with friends or family.
Personalised Messages: Send out targeted emails thanking specific groups, such as volunteers or donors, with a recap of what their efforts achieved.
4. Use Social Media to Amplify the Message
Live Updates
Post live updates during events to keep your congregation and community engaged in real time, even if they’re not physically present.
Countdowns and Reminders
Build excitement by posting countdowns to services or sharing reminders to join live streamed services.
Tags
Use hashtags where appropriate, especially if your denomination has a specific Christmas campaign. But also tag in other churches or organisations in your community who are either partners in the projects, co hosting the event or you are fundraising for.
5. Create a “Christmas Collection” on Your Website
Central Hub
Create a dedicated page on your church website where all your Christmas content—videos, photos, blog posts, and event recaps—can be easily accessed.
On Demand Viewing
If you live streamed any events, ensure recordings are available here for people to watch or rewatch at their convenience.
Shareable Resources
Offer downloadable resources like devotionals, family activity guides, or festive wallpapers to keep people connected to your church throughout the season.
6. Encourage Your Congregation to Share
Word of Mouth
Ask your congregation to share posts, videos, and invitations with their friends and family. Personal recommendations can be incredibly effective.
Highlight Community Involvement
Share user generated content from your congregation, such as photos or reflections on how they’ve celebrated Christmas with your church.
7. Don’t Forget Follow Up Content
Post Christmas Gratitude
Share a post or video thanking everyone for their participation and reflecting on how the church celebrated the season.
Looking Ahead
Use the momentum to invite people to your New Year’s services or events, setting a tone of hope and renewal for the year to come.
Repurpose
Use the content you’ve created over the Christmas season to post about reflections, gratitude or celebration, but also don’t forget that you have this content when prepping for Christmas 2025, make use of your hard work now to make next year a little easier!
By capturing the essence of your Christmas celebrations and creatively repurposing your content, you’ll not only extend its lifespan but also reach more people with the message of hope and love that Christmas represents.
Ready to take your church communications further?
Explore my training videos and online resources for more tips on how to maximise your church’s impact year round!