Start Preparing Now to Welcome Guests for Advent and Christmas

The season of Advent is just around the corner—a season of waiting, watching, and preparing our hearts for Christmas. It is also one of the most natural times of the year for visitors to walk through our church doors. Neighbors who haven’t worshiped in years, families looking for a place to bring children to a Christmas pageant, those grieving who need a safe space to lament—all are likely to show up during Advent and Christmas.

The question is: are we ready to welcome them?

Hospitality is not just the role of a greeter at the door. It is a ministry of the whole congregation, and every member can be a welcoming presence. This is not about rehearsed scripts or polished speeches—it’s about truly seeing people, honoring them as Christ in our midst, and helping them take their next step into community.

Advent Episcopal Church, Tallahassee, Florida

Train and Commission Greeters

Your greeters set the tone for every encounter. Begin now to:

• Retrain greeters and ushers to focus on eye contact, smiles, and being present to visitors rather than just handing out bulletins.

• Equip greeters with language that avoids assumptions (“Welcome, we’re glad you’re here” rather than “Are you new?”).

• Pair greeters with “guides” who can accompany a visitor to coffee hour or introduce them to others.

Deputize the Whole Congregation

Hospitality belongs to every baptized person. This Advent, invite members to:

• Notice new faces and introduce themselves warmly.

• Make space at coffee hour by breaking out of friendship circles.

• Offer practical help—where the nursery is, how to follow the bulletin, where the restrooms are.

• Pray intentionally for the Spirit to open their eyes to newcomers each Sunday.

Publicize Services with Care

The way you share your Advent and Christmas services matters. Think beyond your own website bulletin board:

• Advertise your Blue Christmas/Longest Night service with tender, invitational language. Acknowledge that holidays can be painful and that this service offers a space for grief and comfort.

• Use social media creatively. Short video invitations from clergy or lay leaders, event pages on Facebook, and Instagram posts can all extend the reach of your invitation.

• Post on community calendars and use platforms like Eventbrite to make services more discoverable.

• Refresh signage with clear banners announcing Advent and Christmas services, visible from the street.

Create Advent Experiences for Families

For many households, a child’s experience shapes whether the whole family returns. Consider:

• Advent activity kits (simple bags with candles, prayers, coloring sheets, and activities for families to do at home).

• Children’s Advent or Christmas pageants. Go beyond your own membership—invite children from the neighborhood, local preschools, or community groups. Participation often brings entire families.

• Family-friendly posts on social media that highlight these opportunities with photos and joyful energy.

Practical Steps This Month

Here are simple things your congregation can do right away:

• Retrain greeters and deputize members during October and November.

• Create and distribute Advent activity kits by the first Sunday of Advent.

• Begin advertising Advent and Christmas services on social media now, with special emphasis on Blue Christmas/Longest Night.

• Invite children beyond your congregation to join your Advent or Christmas pageant.

• Encourage every member to carry invitation cards or share digital invitations with friends and neighbors.

Advent is about preparing our hearts for Christ. Preparing our churches to receive guests is one of the most faithful ways we can embody that season. When visitors experience genuine welcome, they encounter Christ’s love in our midst—and that encounter can be life-changing.