The Community Hub

Christmas Ministry Checklist: Helping Your People Feel Known

Written by Called by Newman Ministry | Sep 2, 2025 8:29:53 PM

Christmas is one of the most important seasons for ministry leaders. Churches fill with familiar faces, new visitors, and families returning for Christmas services. For many, it’s the first time stepping into a church in months—or even years. The question is: how do you make sure those people don’t slip away once Christmas is over?

That’s where Called comes in. Called is the discipleship app designed by ministry leaders to help ministry leaders build stronger, more connected communities. Whether you’re preparing for Christmas Mass, planning your Christmas Eve service, or organizing volunteers, Called gives you the tools to make every person feel needed and known.

Here’s a practical Christmas checklist for ministry leaders on how to use Called before, during, and after the holiday season.

Step 1: Get Your Church Community on Called

The first step is simple: set up your ministry on Called. This creates a digital “home base” where everyone—leaders, long-time members, and newcomers—can stay connected.

Unlike email lists or social media, Called is built specifically for church communities. You can create groups, message members directly, post prayer requests, and track member engagement all in one place. By Christmas, your church will already have a system to welcome visitors and retain them long-term.

Step 2: Prepare Before Christmas Services

  • Update Member Profiles: With Called’s People dashboard, you can record notes about members—like interests, prayer needs, or family details—so you can personally connect when you see them at Christmas. This small touch makes people feel deeply known.

  • Plan Guest Engagement: Create a Christmas Service news announcement in your community. That way, everyone knows exactly where to find resources, introductions, and next steps during the holiday season's craziness, instead of getting lost in emails.

  • Empower Volunteers: Assign active members leadership roles in Called (admin, leader, or editor). They can help you welcome newcomers, share encouragement, and post event updates. This shows your regular members they are valued while inviting them to serve new guests.

Step 3: Stay Connected During Christmas

  • Send Real-Time Updates: Use Called’s group messaging to send reminders, livestream links, or even a Christmas prayer before services begin. Members and guests alike stay informed and cared for.
  • Welcome Visitors by Name: When someone joins your Called community, you can welcome them in a group chat or with a personal note. That instant acknowledgment helps visitors feel recognized instead of overlooked.
  • Encourage Sharing: Called makes it easy for members to share photos, favorite traditions, or prayer intentions. This turns your church into an online family where people build relationships beyond Sunday.

Step 4: Follow Up After Christmas

Most guests won’t return if there’s no follow-up. Called helps you reach out personally and keep people engaged.

  • See Who’s Engaged (and Who’s Not): A one-way communication email doesn't tell you who actually reads your emails or not. With Called+ member insights, you can track activity and notice when someone hasn't been active in a while. This makes it easy to check in with a “We missed you!” note. 
  • Give Clear Next Steps: Invite new visitors to join a small group, Bible study, or parish event already running in Called. Instead of vague announcements, they have a clear path to belong.
  • Celebrate Together: Post photos/videos, thank-you notes, or highlights from your Christmas services. This reminds visitors and long-time members alike that their presence mattered.

Step 5: Keep the Momentum Going Year-Round

Christmas is just the start of a relationship. Ministry leaders who continue using Called see stronger retention because the app consistently keeps people engaged.

  • Share weekly Scripture reflections and encouragement.

  • Post opportunities to serve or volunteer.

  • Recognize member contributions to keep your community engaged.

Don’t Let Christmas Be a Missed Opportunity

Christmas brings people to your church. Called helps you keep them connected. With tools for communication, organization, and engagement, Called supports ministry leaders in turning Christmas visitors into lifelong disciples.

Ready to kickstart your small group journey? You can create a community (completely free) here today. If you're looking for more tools to manage and grow your small groups, you can start your 14-day free trial of Called+ today, and experience the difference for yourself. 

Together, let's build communities built on small group programs that lead people to Christ and make disciples in the modern world.