Christmas brings beautiful traditions, joyful worship, great music…and visitors. Too often, churches quietly view these guests as people who “only show up once or twice a year,” as if regular members are somehow more important. But this misses the deeper truth:
Everyone who walks through your doors at Christmas is there for a reason.
For some, walking into a church at Christmas takes enormous courage. Some come because family invited them. Some come out of tradition. Some are spiritually searching. Some are carrying grief or loneliness. And some may be returning for the first time in years, quietly wondering if there is still a place for them in a house of worship.
Every visitor is a gift.
Every visit is a chance to practice the stewardship of hospitality—one of the most tangible expressions of Christ’s love we can offer. Every visitor is someone God has entrusted to our care for that moment.
Consider Who Might Be in the Pews
Christmas brings a wide range of possible guests:
- Adult children visiting home who join their parents in worship. Picture the young adult who hasn’t attended church since high school, sitting beside their family on Christmas Eve and hoping to feel something familiar again. They may be searching for a spiritual home of their own.
- People attending for tradition or nostalgia, hoping to reconnect with something they once loved or to begin new memories with their own children.
- Those seeking community or meaning, ready for connection even if they’re unsure how to find it. Christmas often feels like a safe place to begin exploring faith again.
Any of these visitors might return. And if they live elsewhere, a warm experience in your church may encourage them to reconnect with a congregation in their own community. Their return is far more likely if their experience is warm, simple, and judgment-free.
Practical Ways to Welcome Well
Before and During Worship
- Use clear, friendly signage from parking to pews. For Christmas Eve, ensure outdoor lighting is bright and welcoming.
- Make accommodations for children—offer a kids’ welcome kit, coloring bag, or activity pages.
- Keep bulletins simple and avoid insider language.
- Encourage ushers and greeters to offer warmth—not humor that might unintentionally embarrass guests or make them feel singled out.
- Have greeters who walk with guests, not just point directions. Offer mobility assistance if needed.
- Briefly and kindly explain elements of the service, especially communion or any unfamiliar traditions.
After the Service
- If your church typically hosts a coffee hour, offer it after Christmas Eve and Christmas services as well. A cookie table or hot beverage station gives guests a reason to linger and experience the kindness of your community.
- Provide an easy, low-pressure way for guests to share contact information (a QR code or small card), and follow up with a simple, warm message later in the week.
- Share any Ministry Booklets or informational materials your church produces, and consider pairing them with a small, welcoming token—like a Christmas blessing bookmark, a simple ornament, or a packet of cocoa or tea—to make guests feel personally welcomed.
The Heart of It
Hospitality is stewardship. It is the practice of caring for the people who show up—whether for one Sunday or many.
This Christmas, may our congregations choose welcome over worry, curiosity over judgment, and generosity over assumptions. A simple welcome this season may be the beginning of someone’s journey back to God.
May every person who enters your doors feel seen, valued, and truly welcomed.
