Christmas Eve Offering 2022—Spoiler Alert!
The Christmas Eve offering used to be so easy. It was the one day a year where the church could count on people attending church and being generous.
But in 2022, there are several factors that might change behaviors – and these factors need to be considered as we make plans:
- The 2022 Calendar: Christmas Day is on a Sunday, making it a low attendance day. Perhaps the Christmas Eve service should be treated as the primary service of the weekend.
- NFL vs Noel. The NFL has football games scheduled all day and evening on December 24th — including the CHIEFS at NOON on CHRISTMAS EVE! We already know from Sunday mornings that many people across Missouri will choose watching the game over church—no matter what time of day the game is scheduled!
- The condition of the tradition. There is concern that during the pandemic, people’s Christmas Eve traditions may have changed. In-person worship might need some extra encouragement.
- The Weather Wildcard. Weather is always a wildcard that impacts people’s decision to attend church or not.
- The Competition. Let’s also remember that the offering plate is competing with an increase in requests from other worthy non-profit organizations in the community.
So — things are complicated! But the miracle at Bethlehem shines through any darkness, and we have pulled together 10 ideas to help you make the most of Christmas Eve 2022 and the offering:
- Communicate throughout Advent about the Christmas Eve offering. This gives people time to think about the ways they can support it. Communication should include compelling information about what the offering will go toward. Tell stories with pictures, videos, and testimonials! Share through social media, e-newsletters, worship announcements, letters, personal conversations and anywhere else your congregation learns about the life of the church. Many of the following points can help further with these communication ideas.
- Make all or a portion of your Christmas Eve offering go toward a mission project in the community. People give more to a mission project that directly impacts lives in the community than they will to the general budget of the church. Choose a specific mission project that touches peoples’ hearts. (This is especially important for those rare attenders who are moved by a cause, and can help a non-giver start their giving journey.)
If your church is unable to have the Christmas Eve offering go entirely ‘beyond the budget,’ consider a 50-50 split of the offering between a community project and church operations. This should still boost giving for both funds. - Add a volunteer opportunity. It’s one thing to ask people to give. It’s another thing to invite people to join in hands-on mission. For example, if the offering benefits the local food pantry, invite families to pitch-in at the pantry throughout December and January. Add the value of volunteer hours to your total gift tally for later celebrations.
- Offer on-line giving and text-by-giving options. 60% of church people polled are willing to give digitally—and it is easier than ever to set this up through your church website. Once you are ready, make sure folks know the option is there – and keep reminding them. It’s not necessary to announce these options every time you do the offering but make it a part of your other ongoing communications. For example, use slides before worship or during the offering time, note it at the bottom of every newsletter article and in the bulletin – plus, make sure there is a button on your website to “click to give” and add a “Christmas Eve Offering” option, if possible. It also helps when people see others take out their phones during the offering, so ask your church leaders to model this from the pew.
- Set up a Christmas Crowdfunding Page. 46% of millennials, 45% of Gen-Xers, and 26% of Baby Boomers give to crowd funding campaigns. Create and promote a giving campaign distinctly for these folks that features your Christmas Eve offering. Ask them to share it on social media and invite their friends to join in. Not sure how to go about crowdfunding? Ask a millennial or a Gen-Xer to lead this campaign.
- A postcard mailing with a QR code. Send a postcard to everyone on your mailing list inviting them to Christmas Eve worship and describing the Christmas Eve offering designation. Add a QR code that takes them to your website’s homepage where they find information about the Christmas Eve service and the on-line giving options.
- Provide “old-school” giving options. The Greatest Generation represents 26% of total US giving and is also the generation most likely to give through direct mail campaigns. Reach this generation with a personalized letter during Advent that invites them to Christmas Eve worship and shares how this year’s offering will be used. Include a church-addressed envelope to return in case they are unable to attend Christmas Eve.
- Create a compelling ask for those worshiping Christmas Eve. Spend as much time and effort crafting the offering time as you do the music, prayers, liturgy and message. Think about how you want to tell the story of what the Christmas Eve offering is going toward, and how it connects to the Christmas story.
- Provide an extra Travelers’ Service. This years’ timing may mean more of your folks will be traveling (or staying home!) over the holiday weekend. Consider adding an additional service on Friday night – Christmas Eve Eve! This adds one more opportunity for folks to participate and to give toward the Christmas Eve offering.
- Capitalize on the last 48 hours of the year. Here are some shocking statistics from the Non-profit Research Center: 30% of annual charitable giving occurs in December, and 10% of annual charitable giving occurs on the last 2 days of the year! Non-profit organizations know this and market heavily during this time. Your church can, too! Even if the pastor and staff are taking well deserved time off, pre-schedule an email and/or social media campaign to invite people (especially those who were unable to worship in person on Christmas Eve) to join in one last opportunity to give to the Christmas Eve offering. Be sure to include links to on-line giving and/or text-to-give options. Adding pictures alongside the compelling story of how their giving can impact the mission of the church is a great way to wrap up the year.
By now your head may be spinning with ideas but here is one more bonus point to add: Don’t forget to celebrate! Keep track of all the generosity that happened in your church during December and take every opportunity you can to share it with the congregation in January. Let them know how much you appreciate their generosity! Afterall, generosity generates more generosity!
Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!