Ideas for encouraging baptism families to church around Christmas-time

Targeted invitation seems to work well. Why not invite your baptism family contacts to just one event? Research suggests that traditional nativity or crib services are the most likely service baptism families will want to be part of, but any of these ideas may work well too.

Ideas

• The first event in your Christmas calendar might well be a fete – and it’s a great time to invite families and make them feel part of the church community. It’s a good place for toddlers and children as well – especially if you have child-friendly activities.
• Advent gives an opportunity to join in with the countdown – and help to explore the meaning in new ways. Consider handing out blank stars at school or other events to encourage children to bring them to church and hang on the church Christmas tree.
• You might like to consider involving families in a Posada – the journey of Mary and Joseph round the parish brings people into contact with one another. Posada is another innovative way to share the Christmas story over Advent.
• There could be a number of ways to use a bulk supply of ‘Real Advent Calendar’ to help share the Christmas story – use as gifts/giveaways at fetes, Sunday school, toddler groups or wherever you’ll meet families with young children.
• Space for the stressed and worn out – create an evening in church for the grown-ups just to come and sit in a sacred space, listen to quiet music, perhaps appreciate Christmas art, read Christmas poems, hear Bible readings and enjoy a drink.
• Here’s a very simple ‘countdown’ prayer idea using the characters from the nativity. For further Christmas resources for families visit the Church Support Hub.