Originally posted December 6, 2011
Brace yourself.
If you’re a leader in a local church you know that the wave of ministry overload is about to hit you and your team, if it hasn’t already.
To survive, it is vital that you as a church leader provide clarity to your team as to why you are hosting 5 Christmas concerts, 14 Christmas Eve Services, 4 Christmas Day services, and a couple of Christmas banquets.
Without that clarity you can easily fall prey to the 5 Myths of Church Christmas Craziness.
MYTH #1: CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS LEAD TO AN ATTENDANCE SPIKE IN JANUARY
People may, indeed, visit your church following a Christmas event. But don’t expect a sudden attendance spike. Right-size your expectations.
MYTH #2: CHRISTMAS PROGRAM TRADITIONS ARE SACRED
No, they’re not.
Don’t drop a tradition on a whim, but be very clear why you are about to present The Christmas Handbell Choir Concert for the 93rd consecutive year.
MYTH #3: IF WE DROP OUR CONCERT EVERYONE WILL GO TO THAT OTHER CHURCH’S CONCERT INSTEAD
Indeed they might.
Take a deep breath.
Get over it.
MYTH #4: CHRISTMAS CONCERTS ARE MISSIONAL
A Christmas concert can indeed lead to missional activity, but it is not in and of itself missional.
A friend of mine used to invite upwards of 20 co-workers to our church’s annual Christmas event, and afterwards would bring them all back to his home for a Christmas party where they could discuss their experience at the church.
That’s missional.
MYTH #5: A CHRISTMAS EVENT GIVES PEOPLE A TASTE OF WHAT OUR CHURCH IS LIKE
Beware the temptation to bait and switch.
Many churches present Star Wars-like production in their Christmas program, with the unspoken promise that “this is what our church is really like”. Better to convey genuine authenticity than a promise of a weekly Cirque du Soleil production.
My wish for you this Christmas is that all that you do as a church will truly impact your congregation and community in a profound way.
Just remember, that without providing crystal clarity as to why you’re doing all you’re doing, you can easily be blind-sided by Church Christmas Craziness.
What myths have you learned with respect to Christmas programs?
