Christmas and the Advent season is a crucial time of year in the church calendar. We want to help parishes prepare in the best way possible to be able to invite and warmly welcome visitors and church members alike into their church buildings and attending their events.
With that in mind, we have created a resource of our top 5 things to consider as you plan for the festive season. These include A Church Near You, Contactless Giving, Lights for Christ, your church building and the ways you are going to invite visitors back to church. Each section includes the resources of our diocese offers to help and what your next steps are if you need any help and support.
A Church Near You
Millions of people will use AChurchNearYou.com this December to find a church and 80% visitors to the site are there for the first time. This offers a huge evangelism opportunity for local churches.
What resources are available?
To help get churches get A Church Near You ready for Christmas there are many resources available on the Resource Hub within A Church Near You. It offers useful free Christmas downloads, including music tracks, graphics and posters.
What’s my next step?
Visit achurchnearyou.com/GetReadyForChristmas to find out how to get online ready for Christmas.
Contactless Giving
Christmas is the most generous time of year and a period in the church calendar where you will receive the most visitors into your church building. Being able to receive their generosity in a quick and easy way is vital.
What resources are available?
We have contactless donation machines and payment devices available for a free rental and we can facilitate and support digital giving for your church website. We also help create templates and backgrounds for the machines and the surrounding environment to attract more giving.
What’s my next step?
Contact Luke and Paul at generosity@sheffield.anglican.org.
Lights for Christ
Advent is a season of expectation and preparation as the church prepares to celebrate the coming of Christ, and it is also a time when we invite and receive many visitors to hear the good news. We have some ideas to help you shine more brightly this Advent season.
What resources are available?
There are many resources available to encourage discipleship during Advent. We have a four-part Advent course called Travelling Light, small group session plans, prayers for Christingle services and discipleship Advent calendars for adults, children, families and schools.
What’s my next step?
Visit the Advent section on the Lights for Christ page on the Diocese of Sheffield website. Contact Hannah Sandoval at hannah.sandoval@sheffield.anglican.org.
Church Buildings
Christmas is one of the loveliest times to visit a church. Many will have special services for children and families, such as Christingles, Carol concerts and Nativity services. Providing a church that is warm and welcoming is vital if you want your visitors to return and tell their friends and family to visit.
What resources are available?
We have resources from our Buildings team on helping to create and maintain a warm spaces.
Our Street to Seat videos can help parishes think through what it’s like to visit their churches and how to make their visits memorable.
What’s my next step?
Contact our Church Buildings team at cbo@sheffield.anglican.org and/or visit the Buildings and Welcome and Belonging pages on the Diocese website.
An Invitation to…
Your A Church Near You page is resplendent, your contactless machine is installed, your advent calendars are up and your church building is warm and welcoming. Your visitors are going to have an excellent time. On average 20% of visitors to your parish will return if you ask them to. What will you be inviting them to?
What resources are available?
There are lots of fun and evangelistic ways to invite your visitors back to your church. We have lots of support and advice on hosting courses (e.g. Alpha course), other festival events (e.g. Easter), events in the church (e.g. coffee mornings) and events in the community (e.g. food and drink festivals).
What’s my next step?
Contact the Resourcing Mission and Ministry team at RMM@sheffield.anglican.org.