How to Make Christmas Fun & Festive For Your Church Staff

The holiday season is a time of joy, reflection, and community. But for church staff, it’s the busiest time of the year! 

Good news: Being busy doesn't mean that the festive spirit should take a backseat. 

Here are some fun and creative ways to ensure your church staff has a merry and bright Christmas season.

20 Ways to Make Christmas Fun for Your Church Staff

1. Plan a Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Nothing says Christmas fun like a Secret Santa gift exchange! Set an affordable price limit and encourage everyone to participate. It’s a great way for staff members to get to know each other better and enjoy the spirit of giving.

2. Host a Christmas Decor Contest

Invite staff to decorate their office doors or workspaces. Set a date for "judging" and offer a prize for the most creative display. This friendly competition brings out the Christmas cheer and spruces up the work environment!

3. Have a Christmas Recipe Share Day

Everyone loves a good Christmas cookie. Organize a day close to Christmas where staff can bring in their favorite holiday treats to share with the team. Yum!

4. Schedule a Caroling Break

Caroling is such a fun tradition. Organize a caroling break where staff can step away from their duties to sing some classic Christmas hymns together. It’s a refreshing and uplifting way to bond!

5. Arrange a Staff Retreat

A day-long retreat during the Advent season can be a wonderful way to refocus and relax. Include activities like a guided reflection on the year past, a meal together, and a time of prayer for the season ahead.

6. Create a Christmas Blessing Board

Set up a board where staff can post notes of what they’re thankful for or share a blessing with each other. This can become a source of encouragement and a visual reminder of the season's joy.

7. Volunteer Together

Plan a day when the church staff can volunteer together at a local shelter or charity. This can be a powerful way to live out the message of the Gospel and to feel the joy of serving others during the Christmas season.

8. Organize a Christmas-Themed Lunch

Have a potluck where each staff member brings a dish, but with a twist: every dish should be inspired by a Christmas carol or movie. This is a delicious and engaging activity that everyone can get a kick out of.

9. Conduct a Christmas Workshop

Host a workshop where staff can create their own Christmas crafts or decorations to take home–a fun, hands-on activity that also serves as a creative break from work.

10. Plan a Christmas Outing

An outing to a Christmas market, ice-skating rink, or a light show can be an excellent way for the staff to unwind and enjoy the season together outside the church walls.

11. Christmas Themed Dress-Up Days

Encourage staff to wear festive attire on certain days leading up to Christmas. You can have themes like "Ugly Christmas Sweater Day" or "Christmas Character Day." It's a great way to add some laughter to the workday.

12. Christmas Movie Marathon

Set up a movie night with back-to-back screenings of classic Christmas films. Provide popcorn, hot cocoa, and blankets for a cozy atmosphere right in the church hall.

13. “12 Days of Christmas” Kindness Challenge

Start a kindness initiative where, for the 12 days leading to Christmas, each staff member performs an act of kindness for another person. It could be within the church community or the broader local community.

14. Winter Wonderland Walk

Organize a group walk in a local park that’s decked out in Christmas lights. This activity combines exercise with the pleasure of enjoying the holiday decorations in the crisp winter air.

15. Christmas Card Workshop

Hold a workshop for making handmade Christmas cards which staff can send to congregation members, family, or friends. This can also be an outreach opportunity to send cards to those in hospitals or nursing homes.

16. Christmas Trivia Contest

Who doesn’t love a good trivia challenge? Host a Christmas-themed trivia game with questions ranging from biblical Christmas stories to holiday traditions around the world.

17. Adopt a Family for Christmas

As a church staff, adopt a less fortunate family for the holidays. Everyone can contribute by buying gifts, preparing a Christmas dinner basket, or decorating the adopted family's home.

18. Christmas Prayer Marathon

Organize a 24-hour prayer marathon where staff members can sign up for slots to pray for specific church-related or global issues. It’s a spiritual way to stay connected to the true meaning of Christmas–the coming of Christ. 

19. Festive Photo Booth

Set up a photo booth with Christmas props and a backdrop. Staff can take turns taking fun, festive photos which can be shared on the church’s social media or kept as keepsakes.

20. Staff Advent Calendar

Create an advent calendar specifically for staff, with each day offering a small token of appreciation: a note of thanks, a small gift, or an offer to do a task for them.

Implementing these additional activities can bring more joy and a sense of shared purpose to your church staff this Christmas season. Remember, the goal is to create a supportive atmosphere where the workload is balanced with meaningful and fun festivities.

How Will You Celebrate the Season?

Christmas is about joy, hope, and community, and your church staff is at the heart of your church’s community. By implementing these fun and festive ideas, you can ensure that your staff feels appreciated, connected, and full of Christmas spirit. Remember, the key is to celebrate together, giving everyone a chance to step back from the busyness and reflect on the joyous occasion. Merry Christmas!