Most people come because someone invited them
Christmas Eve is one of the few nights of the year when people who don’t normally go to church are open to it. Often, what makes the difference is simple: someone they know invited them.
Today, a lot of those invitations happen on a phone. A text with a link. A shared post. A story that says “come with us.” So the most useful thing your church can do online this December is give your people something worth sharing.
1. A 30-second invite from the pastor
A short video of your pastor inviting people personally is one of the most powerful things you can post. Keep it to 30–45 seconds:
- A warm hello (5 seconds): “Hi, I’m Pastor Dan from Grace Church.”
- Who it’s for (10 seconds): “Whether you’ve been to church your whole life, or you haven’t been in years, Christmas Eve is for you.”
- What to expect (10 seconds): “It’s about an hour. Candles, carols, a short message, and there’s something for the kids.”
- The invitation (10 seconds): “Services are at 4 and 6 on Thursday, December 24th. We’d love to have you.”
Speak to one person, not a crowd. Film it somewhere that looks like your church, in good light, and add captions. (See captions for sermon clips.) Make a vertical version for Reels, Shorts, and Stories, and a square one for feeds.
2. A post that’s easy to share
Create one clear Christmas Eve post that members can share or text:
- A simple image or the invite video
- Service times and address in the caption
- One link to your “plan your visit” page
- A line for sharers: “Who are you bringing this year?”
Pin it to the top of your profile from early December.
3. Answer the first-timer questions
People hesitate when they don’t know what will happen. A short “what to expect on Christmas Eve” post or page answers:
- How long is the service?
- Where do I park, and which door do I use?
- What should I wear?
- What happens with my kids?
- Will anyone single me out?
(See the what to expect page for the full guide.)
4. Equip your congregation to invite
Your members’ invitations matter more than your church’s posts. Make it easy:
- Announce it from the stage on the Sundays of Advent: “Think of one person you could invite this year.”
- Give them the link to share, and show them where the invite video is.
- Encourage personal words. A shared post with “my church does a beautiful candlelight service, want to come with us?” is far stronger than a share with no comment.
- Remind them in the final week.
This is the same idea behind the youth media flywheel: messages travel furthest through relationships.
5. Don’t forget the people who can’t come
Some people won’t be able to come: they’re sick, traveling, or caring for someone. Let them know the service will be livestreamed, and include the link in your posts. Make sure the stream is ready for the biggest night of the year. (See the Christmas Eve readiness check.)
Keep it warm, not pushy
The difference between an invitation and an ad is tone:
- Ad: “Don’t miss our AMAZING Christmas Eve experience!”
- Invitation: “We’d love to have you with us on Christmas Eve.”
Talk like a friend. Be clear and specific. Don’t exaggerate.
Making the clips with a small team
Between the invite video, sermon clips from each Advent Sunday, and reminders, December adds up. Reels (formerly Worship Clips) in WorshipMetrics turns each Advent livestream into captioned, branded clips in vertical, square, and horizontal, so your team spends its time choosing and sharing instead of editing. Publish to YouTube with scheduling, or download for Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
For the full six-week rhythm, see a Christmas social media plan for churches. And after Christmas, make sure every first-time guest is welcomed and followed up: from anonymous to known.
Equip everyone to share: see your congregation as digital missionaries.
Related questions
- How do you invite people to church on Christmas Eve?
- Personally, and simply. Give your congregation something easy to share: a short, warm invite video from the pastor, a clear post with service times, and a link to a page that tells first-time guests what to expect. Then ask your members to send it to one person.
- What should a church Christmas Eve invite video say?
- Keep it under 30 to 45 seconds: a warm hello, who it's for ('whether you've been to church your whole life or haven't been in years'), what to expect, service times, and a simple 'we'd love to have you.' Speak to one person, not a crowd.
- Should churches run ads for Christmas Eve?
- Ads can help, but personal invitations from members usually work better and cost nothing. If you do run ads, use the same warm invite video and point people to a clear 'plan your visit' page.
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