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Chuck Lawless has put together a list of Christmas resources to encourage you and help you through the week. See Chuck’s 5 picks.

Have you ever worked tirelessly behind the scenes only to see someone else receive all the praise and recognition? This feeling of frustration is common among church tech team members. We pour our hearts into supporting church services and events, yet the applause typically goes to those on stage. In…

As the familiar frenzy of the holidays descends once more, it meets us still shaking off the weariness of recent seasons of turmoil. Pandemic, unrest, isolation – the early 2020s extracted heavy tolls, leaving spirits longing for respite during Christmas. Yet busyness still beckons as Thanksgiving gives way to the…

Pastoral ministry can be demanding. Supportive and joyful relationships amongst church staff teams make the journey well worth it. Certain key ingredients seem to help cultivate healthy staff dynamics that bless both pastors and their congregations. Ahead are 8 incredible gifts you can give a pastoral staff (spoiler, they’re all…

The Christmas season brings packed church pews and familiar carols, even for those who rarely darken a church’s doors. And Christmas Eve services – with their traditional and spiritual focus – draw growing numbers of churched and unchurched alike. As pastors and church leaders notice this yearly uptick in attendance,…

The holiday season is a hectic time for church leadership. In our well-intentioned efforts to make Advent extra special, we often overextend ourselves and our teams. Is the excessive stress worth it? Jon Nicol offers practical advice – both “do’s” and “don’ts” – for keeping things simple so Christmas stays…

Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year – don’t scale back, go bigger! With holiday-minded guests and wandering prodigals likely attending in greater numbers, this rare alignment is a pivotal chance to make welcoming hospitality your best investment. Keep services short and encouraging, solve scheduling dilemmas simply, and leverage…

Think of planning a worship service like crafting a well-balanced meal – the songs are the courses, each with a unique flavor and purpose. Fill up on Christmas songs alone and you miss the main dishes of declaration and surrender. This year, limit holiday tunes to just a few per…

Christmas services require extra volunteers, but relying solely on your regular team may leave you shorthanded. Deborah Ike is here to help. She offers practical strategies for recruiting the helpers you’ll need, from identifying roles to personal invites and follow-ups. Feed volunteers and send handwritten notes afterwards to show appreciation.…

Christmas means tradition. This year, gift your congregation the nostalgic, soul-stirring worship experience they crave by embracing classic Christmas hymns. Reintroduce timeless carols that connect generations and tap into warm holiday memories. Modernize the melodies if you’d like, but retain the familiar lyrics that tell the Christmas story in a…