Single and Seen: Caring for Singles and Widows in a Family-Centric Holiday Season
Caring for singles and widows during the holidays starts with intentional inclusion. Churches can help by creating inclusive events, acknowledging grief, encouraging hospitality in small groups, and reminding every person they belong—regardless of marital or family status.
Why the Holidays Can Feel Isolating for Singles and Widows
The holidays are the most “together” time of the year – the season when every commercial, soundtrack, and Hallmark Christmas movie seems determined to remind us that family, romance, and picture-perfect moments are the reason for the season.
And while that nostalgic magic is wonderful for many, it can also make the gaps in our lives feel louder. For widows, the empty chair becomes harder to ignore. For single adults – even those who love their single life – navigating a season built around couples and families can feel tiring. And for those far from home, the distance seems to sting a little more this time of year.
In other words, even in the middle of joy and celebration, some people may feel a little isolated.
This is exactly the reason that Thanksgiving and Christmas can be such powerful moments for the Church to step up. In the midst of these family-centric holidays, the Church can set a table where everyone feels seen and welcome. We get to meet people with presence and practical care, reminding every person (widow, single adult, young professional far from home, etc.) that they are fully seen and fully part of the family of God.
Practical Ways Your Church Can Care for Singles and Widows This Holiday Season
With that important framework in mind, here are a few meaningful ways your church can widen the table during the holidays.
1. Meet People in Their Moment
Just because someone is single or widowed doesn’t mean their life is incomplete – or that they are waiting for “real life” to start.
This is something the Church needs to name with kindness. Sometimes, without meaning to, we speak to people – especially unmarried people – in ways that assume their best days are somewhere ahead of them, on the other side of marriage or family.
But belonging in the family of God was never meant to be a “one day” promise! It is a right-now reality. It is not dependent on marital status or life stage. There is nothing more “holy” about being married or fitting a particular family mold. The early church didn’t divide believers by who had families and who didn’t. They simply broke bread together and shared their lives because Jesus had already made them a family.
And that is still the call today. We are called to honor people in the season they’re in, not the one we imagine for them. We are called to remind them that they already belong, they already matter, and their story is fully welcomed in the church right now. This holiday season, make sure your church’s language and posture reflect these truths!
2. Get Creative With Holiday Events
Instead of rinse-and-repeating last year’s holiday lineup, take a look at your events with fresh eyes. Are they mostly built around families and couples? If so, it might be time to mix things up.
Try hosting a church Friendsgiving where everyone brings a dish and eats at one long table. Start a church-wide Secret Santa open to singles, couples, families, and staff alike. Plan a special dinner for single parents and offer free childcare so they can truly relax. Or launch a toy drive specifically for children of single parents in your church or community.
Creativity is one of the simplest ways to communicate care. When people notice that your church thought about them while planning, it helps them feel seen and loved.
3. Equip Your Small Groups to Practice Hospitality
Small groups are one of the most powerful engines of belonging in the church. Encourage your groups to look around and consider who might need a church family this season. It doesn’t have to be a full Christmas dinner with fine china. It can be pizza around a crowded table or an invitation to come over for dessert after service.
And if your church has the capacity, give your small group leaders a small budget to host these gatherings. A little financial support can go a long way in helping leaders open their homes with confidence and creativity.
4. Make Space for Grief
For a lot of people, the holidays don’t feel magical. They feel heavy. This season has a way of stirring up both positive and negative memories, and when everyone else is celebrating, that ache can feel even sharper.
This is why a simple moment from the pulpit can mean the world. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be as gentle as, “We know some of you are carrying grief or loss this season, and we want you to know we see you. God is near to you.” Even a short prayer for those who are hurting can open a door of belonging for someone who walked in feeling alone.
These small acknowledgments matter. They help singles, widows, and anyone walking through a painful chapter know that they’re not forgotten in the crowd and that they are part of a family with Jesus at the center.
5. Offer Community Service Opportunities
Some of my favorite people in life marched right into my world because we were both trying to hang the same string of Christmas lights for a church event. Serving together just… does something. It turns strangers into friends and friends into family.
So this Christmas, help your church community lean into serving together. Create opportunities that bring the whole church together with a shared mission. Deliver meals. Decorate a nursing home. Pack care boxes. Show up at a shelter. You never know who will connect and what friendship they will find in each other!
6. Build Care into Your Calendar
We’re all about calendars and to-do lists when it comes to our work and personal lives, so why not extend that practice to our relationships? During a busy holiday season, it is easy for people to slip through the cracks. One way to be extra intentional is to make a simple list of those who may be spending the holidays alone, and assign leaders or small groups to reach out.
It can be a call, a card, a drop-by visit, or an invitation to a meal or a service.
These may be small acts to your team, but they can make a huge difference in helping people feel seen and cared for while experiencing loneliness or grief.
7. Invite People Into Roles That Matter
People feel a deeper sense of belonging when they are needed. Consider inviting singles, widows, and those who might be spending the holidays alone into meaningful volunteer roles during Advent, not as a way to fill gaps but to honor their gifts.
Greeting, decorating, reading Scripture, lighting the Advent candles, leading prayer, or running hospitality are all simple ways to place people at the center of the community rather than on the edges. For many, serving becomes a place of healing, purpose, and joy in a season that might otherwise feel lonely.
A Family for Every Season
Jesus didn’t build His community depending on who had spouses, kids, or picture-perfect Christmas cards. He gathered people with wildly different stories and made them a family.
So in a season that can feel extra loud for singles and widows and those without family, the Church gets to offer a warm welcome. A simple act of care, a thoughtful invitation, or a word of acknowledgment can remind them that they are an important part of the family of God!
A Little Structure Helps Us Care Better
If your church wants to be more intentional with caring for people this holiday season, having simple tools in place can make that so much easier. Tithely’s Church Management Software helps you keep track of people, communicate well, and follow up in ways that help people feel remembered.
Care for your people well, and explore how Tithely supports the ministry you’re already doing.
Sign Up for Product Updates
Susanna is a theological content writer with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about ministry, running, and exploring new cultures through international travel. In her free time, you’ll find her surfing, obsessing over the Olympics, or enjoying the San Diego sunshine!
Why the Holidays Can Feel Isolating for Singles and Widows
The holidays are the most “together” time of the year – the season when every commercial, soundtrack, and Hallmark Christmas movie seems determined to remind us that family, romance, and picture-perfect moments are the reason for the season.
And while that nostalgic magic is wonderful for many, it can also make the gaps in our lives feel louder. For widows, the empty chair becomes harder to ignore. For single adults – even those who love their single life – navigating a season built around couples and families can feel tiring. And for those far from home, the distance seems to sting a little more this time of year.
In other words, even in the middle of joy and celebration, some people may feel a little isolated.
This is exactly the reason that Thanksgiving and Christmas can be such powerful moments for the Church to step up. In the midst of these family-centric holidays, the Church can set a table where everyone feels seen and welcome. We get to meet people with presence and practical care, reminding every person (widow, single adult, young professional far from home, etc.) that they are fully seen and fully part of the family of God.
Practical Ways Your Church Can Care for Singles and Widows This Holiday Season
With that important framework in mind, here are a few meaningful ways your church can widen the table during the holidays.
1. Meet People in Their Moment
Just because someone is single or widowed doesn’t mean their life is incomplete – or that they are waiting for “real life” to start.
This is something the Church needs to name with kindness. Sometimes, without meaning to, we speak to people – especially unmarried people – in ways that assume their best days are somewhere ahead of them, on the other side of marriage or family.
But belonging in the family of God was never meant to be a “one day” promise! It is a right-now reality. It is not dependent on marital status or life stage. There is nothing more “holy” about being married or fitting a particular family mold. The early church didn’t divide believers by who had families and who didn’t. They simply broke bread together and shared their lives because Jesus had already made them a family.
And that is still the call today. We are called to honor people in the season they’re in, not the one we imagine for them. We are called to remind them that they already belong, they already matter, and their story is fully welcomed in the church right now. This holiday season, make sure your church’s language and posture reflect these truths!
2. Get Creative With Holiday Events
Instead of rinse-and-repeating last year’s holiday lineup, take a look at your events with fresh eyes. Are they mostly built around families and couples? If so, it might be time to mix things up.
Try hosting a church Friendsgiving where everyone brings a dish and eats at one long table. Start a church-wide Secret Santa open to singles, couples, families, and staff alike. Plan a special dinner for single parents and offer free childcare so they can truly relax. Or launch a toy drive specifically for children of single parents in your church or community.
Creativity is one of the simplest ways to communicate care. When people notice that your church thought about them while planning, it helps them feel seen and loved.
3. Equip Your Small Groups to Practice Hospitality
Small groups are one of the most powerful engines of belonging in the church. Encourage your groups to look around and consider who might need a church family this season. It doesn’t have to be a full Christmas dinner with fine china. It can be pizza around a crowded table or an invitation to come over for dessert after service.
And if your church has the capacity, give your small group leaders a small budget to host these gatherings. A little financial support can go a long way in helping leaders open their homes with confidence and creativity.
4. Make Space for Grief
For a lot of people, the holidays don’t feel magical. They feel heavy. This season has a way of stirring up both positive and negative memories, and when everyone else is celebrating, that ache can feel even sharper.
This is why a simple moment from the pulpit can mean the world. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be as gentle as, “We know some of you are carrying grief or loss this season, and we want you to know we see you. God is near to you.” Even a short prayer for those who are hurting can open a door of belonging for someone who walked in feeling alone.
These small acknowledgments matter. They help singles, widows, and anyone walking through a painful chapter know that they’re not forgotten in the crowd and that they are part of a family with Jesus at the center.
5. Offer Community Service Opportunities
Some of my favorite people in life marched right into my world because we were both trying to hang the same string of Christmas lights for a church event. Serving together just… does something. It turns strangers into friends and friends into family.
So this Christmas, help your church community lean into serving together. Create opportunities that bring the whole church together with a shared mission. Deliver meals. Decorate a nursing home. Pack care boxes. Show up at a shelter. You never know who will connect and what friendship they will find in each other!
6. Build Care into Your Calendar
We’re all about calendars and to-do lists when it comes to our work and personal lives, so why not extend that practice to our relationships? During a busy holiday season, it is easy for people to slip through the cracks. One way to be extra intentional is to make a simple list of those who may be spending the holidays alone, and assign leaders or small groups to reach out.
It can be a call, a card, a drop-by visit, or an invitation to a meal or a service.
These may be small acts to your team, but they can make a huge difference in helping people feel seen and cared for while experiencing loneliness or grief.
7. Invite People Into Roles That Matter
People feel a deeper sense of belonging when they are needed. Consider inviting singles, widows, and those who might be spending the holidays alone into meaningful volunteer roles during Advent, not as a way to fill gaps but to honor their gifts.
Greeting, decorating, reading Scripture, lighting the Advent candles, leading prayer, or running hospitality are all simple ways to place people at the center of the community rather than on the edges. For many, serving becomes a place of healing, purpose, and joy in a season that might otherwise feel lonely.
A Family for Every Season
Jesus didn’t build His community depending on who had spouses, kids, or picture-perfect Christmas cards. He gathered people with wildly different stories and made them a family.
So in a season that can feel extra loud for singles and widows and those without family, the Church gets to offer a warm welcome. A simple act of care, a thoughtful invitation, or a word of acknowledgment can remind them that they are an important part of the family of God!
A Little Structure Helps Us Care Better
If your church wants to be more intentional with caring for people this holiday season, having simple tools in place can make that so much easier. Tithely’s Church Management Software helps you keep track of people, communicate well, and follow up in ways that help people feel remembered.
Care for your people well, and explore how Tithely supports the ministry you’re already doing.
podcast transcript
Susanna is a theological content writer with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about ministry, running, and exploring new cultures through international travel. In her free time, you’ll find her surfing, obsessing over the Olympics, or enjoying the San Diego sunshine!
Why the Holidays Can Feel Isolating for Singles and Widows
The holidays are the most “together” time of the year – the season when every commercial, soundtrack, and Hallmark Christmas movie seems determined to remind us that family, romance, and picture-perfect moments are the reason for the season.
And while that nostalgic magic is wonderful for many, it can also make the gaps in our lives feel louder. For widows, the empty chair becomes harder to ignore. For single adults – even those who love their single life – navigating a season built around couples and families can feel tiring. And for those far from home, the distance seems to sting a little more this time of year.
In other words, even in the middle of joy and celebration, some people may feel a little isolated.
This is exactly the reason that Thanksgiving and Christmas can be such powerful moments for the Church to step up. In the midst of these family-centric holidays, the Church can set a table where everyone feels seen and welcome. We get to meet people with presence and practical care, reminding every person (widow, single adult, young professional far from home, etc.) that they are fully seen and fully part of the family of God.
Practical Ways Your Church Can Care for Singles and Widows This Holiday Season
With that important framework in mind, here are a few meaningful ways your church can widen the table during the holidays.
1. Meet People in Their Moment
Just because someone is single or widowed doesn’t mean their life is incomplete – or that they are waiting for “real life” to start.
This is something the Church needs to name with kindness. Sometimes, without meaning to, we speak to people – especially unmarried people – in ways that assume their best days are somewhere ahead of them, on the other side of marriage or family.
But belonging in the family of God was never meant to be a “one day” promise! It is a right-now reality. It is not dependent on marital status or life stage. There is nothing more “holy” about being married or fitting a particular family mold. The early church didn’t divide believers by who had families and who didn’t. They simply broke bread together and shared their lives because Jesus had already made them a family.
And that is still the call today. We are called to honor people in the season they’re in, not the one we imagine for them. We are called to remind them that they already belong, they already matter, and their story is fully welcomed in the church right now. This holiday season, make sure your church’s language and posture reflect these truths!
2. Get Creative With Holiday Events
Instead of rinse-and-repeating last year’s holiday lineup, take a look at your events with fresh eyes. Are they mostly built around families and couples? If so, it might be time to mix things up.
Try hosting a church Friendsgiving where everyone brings a dish and eats at one long table. Start a church-wide Secret Santa open to singles, couples, families, and staff alike. Plan a special dinner for single parents and offer free childcare so they can truly relax. Or launch a toy drive specifically for children of single parents in your church or community.
Creativity is one of the simplest ways to communicate care. When people notice that your church thought about them while planning, it helps them feel seen and loved.
3. Equip Your Small Groups to Practice Hospitality
Small groups are one of the most powerful engines of belonging in the church. Encourage your groups to look around and consider who might need a church family this season. It doesn’t have to be a full Christmas dinner with fine china. It can be pizza around a crowded table or an invitation to come over for dessert after service.
And if your church has the capacity, give your small group leaders a small budget to host these gatherings. A little financial support can go a long way in helping leaders open their homes with confidence and creativity.
4. Make Space for Grief
For a lot of people, the holidays don’t feel magical. They feel heavy. This season has a way of stirring up both positive and negative memories, and when everyone else is celebrating, that ache can feel even sharper.
This is why a simple moment from the pulpit can mean the world. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be as gentle as, “We know some of you are carrying grief or loss this season, and we want you to know we see you. God is near to you.” Even a short prayer for those who are hurting can open a door of belonging for someone who walked in feeling alone.
These small acknowledgments matter. They help singles, widows, and anyone walking through a painful chapter know that they’re not forgotten in the crowd and that they are part of a family with Jesus at the center.
5. Offer Community Service Opportunities
Some of my favorite people in life marched right into my world because we were both trying to hang the same string of Christmas lights for a church event. Serving together just… does something. It turns strangers into friends and friends into family.
So this Christmas, help your church community lean into serving together. Create opportunities that bring the whole church together with a shared mission. Deliver meals. Decorate a nursing home. Pack care boxes. Show up at a shelter. You never know who will connect and what friendship they will find in each other!
6. Build Care into Your Calendar
We’re all about calendars and to-do lists when it comes to our work and personal lives, so why not extend that practice to our relationships? During a busy holiday season, it is easy for people to slip through the cracks. One way to be extra intentional is to make a simple list of those who may be spending the holidays alone, and assign leaders or small groups to reach out.
It can be a call, a card, a drop-by visit, or an invitation to a meal or a service.
These may be small acts to your team, but they can make a huge difference in helping people feel seen and cared for while experiencing loneliness or grief.
7. Invite People Into Roles That Matter
People feel a deeper sense of belonging when they are needed. Consider inviting singles, widows, and those who might be spending the holidays alone into meaningful volunteer roles during Advent, not as a way to fill gaps but to honor their gifts.
Greeting, decorating, reading Scripture, lighting the Advent candles, leading prayer, or running hospitality are all simple ways to place people at the center of the community rather than on the edges. For many, serving becomes a place of healing, purpose, and joy in a season that might otherwise feel lonely.
A Family for Every Season
Jesus didn’t build His community depending on who had spouses, kids, or picture-perfect Christmas cards. He gathered people with wildly different stories and made them a family.
So in a season that can feel extra loud for singles and widows and those without family, the Church gets to offer a warm welcome. A simple act of care, a thoughtful invitation, or a word of acknowledgment can remind them that they are an important part of the family of God!
A Little Structure Helps Us Care Better
If your church wants to be more intentional with caring for people this holiday season, having simple tools in place can make that so much easier. Tithely’s Church Management Software helps you keep track of people, communicate well, and follow up in ways that help people feel remembered.
Care for your people well, and explore how Tithely supports the ministry you’re already doing.
VIDEO transcript
Why the Holidays Can Feel Isolating for Singles and Widows
The holidays are the most “together” time of the year – the season when every commercial, soundtrack, and Hallmark Christmas movie seems determined to remind us that family, romance, and picture-perfect moments are the reason for the season.
And while that nostalgic magic is wonderful for many, it can also make the gaps in our lives feel louder. For widows, the empty chair becomes harder to ignore. For single adults – even those who love their single life – navigating a season built around couples and families can feel tiring. And for those far from home, the distance seems to sting a little more this time of year.
In other words, even in the middle of joy and celebration, some people may feel a little isolated.
This is exactly the reason that Thanksgiving and Christmas can be such powerful moments for the Church to step up. In the midst of these family-centric holidays, the Church can set a table where everyone feels seen and welcome. We get to meet people with presence and practical care, reminding every person (widow, single adult, young professional far from home, etc.) that they are fully seen and fully part of the family of God.
Practical Ways Your Church Can Care for Singles and Widows This Holiday Season
With that important framework in mind, here are a few meaningful ways your church can widen the table during the holidays.
1. Meet People in Their Moment
Just because someone is single or widowed doesn’t mean their life is incomplete – or that they are waiting for “real life” to start.
This is something the Church needs to name with kindness. Sometimes, without meaning to, we speak to people – especially unmarried people – in ways that assume their best days are somewhere ahead of them, on the other side of marriage or family.
But belonging in the family of God was never meant to be a “one day” promise! It is a right-now reality. It is not dependent on marital status or life stage. There is nothing more “holy” about being married or fitting a particular family mold. The early church didn’t divide believers by who had families and who didn’t. They simply broke bread together and shared their lives because Jesus had already made them a family.
And that is still the call today. We are called to honor people in the season they’re in, not the one we imagine for them. We are called to remind them that they already belong, they already matter, and their story is fully welcomed in the church right now. This holiday season, make sure your church’s language and posture reflect these truths!
2. Get Creative With Holiday Events
Instead of rinse-and-repeating last year’s holiday lineup, take a look at your events with fresh eyes. Are they mostly built around families and couples? If so, it might be time to mix things up.
Try hosting a church Friendsgiving where everyone brings a dish and eats at one long table. Start a church-wide Secret Santa open to singles, couples, families, and staff alike. Plan a special dinner for single parents and offer free childcare so they can truly relax. Or launch a toy drive specifically for children of single parents in your church or community.
Creativity is one of the simplest ways to communicate care. When people notice that your church thought about them while planning, it helps them feel seen and loved.
3. Equip Your Small Groups to Practice Hospitality
Small groups are one of the most powerful engines of belonging in the church. Encourage your groups to look around and consider who might need a church family this season. It doesn’t have to be a full Christmas dinner with fine china. It can be pizza around a crowded table or an invitation to come over for dessert after service.
And if your church has the capacity, give your small group leaders a small budget to host these gatherings. A little financial support can go a long way in helping leaders open their homes with confidence and creativity.
4. Make Space for Grief
For a lot of people, the holidays don’t feel magical. They feel heavy. This season has a way of stirring up both positive and negative memories, and when everyone else is celebrating, that ache can feel even sharper.
This is why a simple moment from the pulpit can mean the world. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be as gentle as, “We know some of you are carrying grief or loss this season, and we want you to know we see you. God is near to you.” Even a short prayer for those who are hurting can open a door of belonging for someone who walked in feeling alone.
These small acknowledgments matter. They help singles, widows, and anyone walking through a painful chapter know that they’re not forgotten in the crowd and that they are part of a family with Jesus at the center.
5. Offer Community Service Opportunities
Some of my favorite people in life marched right into my world because we were both trying to hang the same string of Christmas lights for a church event. Serving together just… does something. It turns strangers into friends and friends into family.
So this Christmas, help your church community lean into serving together. Create opportunities that bring the whole church together with a shared mission. Deliver meals. Decorate a nursing home. Pack care boxes. Show up at a shelter. You never know who will connect and what friendship they will find in each other!
6. Build Care into Your Calendar
We’re all about calendars and to-do lists when it comes to our work and personal lives, so why not extend that practice to our relationships? During a busy holiday season, it is easy for people to slip through the cracks. One way to be extra intentional is to make a simple list of those who may be spending the holidays alone, and assign leaders or small groups to reach out.
It can be a call, a card, a drop-by visit, or an invitation to a meal or a service.
These may be small acts to your team, but they can make a huge difference in helping people feel seen and cared for while experiencing loneliness or grief.
7. Invite People Into Roles That Matter
People feel a deeper sense of belonging when they are needed. Consider inviting singles, widows, and those who might be spending the holidays alone into meaningful volunteer roles during Advent, not as a way to fill gaps but to honor their gifts.
Greeting, decorating, reading Scripture, lighting the Advent candles, leading prayer, or running hospitality are all simple ways to place people at the center of the community rather than on the edges. For many, serving becomes a place of healing, purpose, and joy in a season that might otherwise feel lonely.
A Family for Every Season
Jesus didn’t build His community depending on who had spouses, kids, or picture-perfect Christmas cards. He gathered people with wildly different stories and made them a family.
So in a season that can feel extra loud for singles and widows and those without family, the Church gets to offer a warm welcome. A simple act of care, a thoughtful invitation, or a word of acknowledgment can remind them that they are an important part of the family of God!
A Little Structure Helps Us Care Better
If your church wants to be more intentional with caring for people this holiday season, having simple tools in place can make that so much easier. Tithely’s Church Management Software helps you keep track of people, communicate well, and follow up in ways that help people feel remembered.
Care for your people well, and explore how Tithely supports the ministry you’re already doing.
Sign Up for Product Updates
Susanna is a theological content writer with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about ministry, running, and exploring new cultures through international travel. In her free time, you’ll find her surfing, obsessing over the Olympics, or enjoying the San Diego sunshine!
You Might Also Like
More Resources
From increasing giving, managing your congregation, and engaging your church, our collection of resources will keep you up-to-date on the latest church and ministry trends.
Free Resources
.jpg)
