The holiday season is a natural time for connection, but the true key to growing and sustaining your community lies in what happens next. In this Growing Congregations live stream we discuss holiday outreach and the strategy behind offering specific connecting events immediately after the New Year. Make your holiday outreach the starting point for ongoing relationships that strengthen your congregation all year long!  

                    Recorded live on December 17, 2024. 

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Session Notes  

A Holiday and NewYear Strategy for Growing Congregations
By Peter Bowden 

Introduction

The holiday season is a natural time for connection. Congregations often see increased attendance, with visitors and returning members bringing a sense of warmth, cheer, and meaning to services. Yet, many leaders share the same challenge:

“How do we transform the holiday attendance boost into long-term engagement?”

The key lies in what happens after the holidays. People who attend during this season are already looking for connection, community, and meaning—and they’re often beginning to think about the New Year. This is your chance to help them take the next step.

In this guide, we’ll explore:

1. The psychology and needs of visitors during this time.
2. A proven strategy for communicating connection.
3. A lineup of January events designed to make connecting easy.
4. Ideas for facilitating introductions during these events.
5. How to use video outreach to invite newcomers.
   
   

1. Why the Holidays Matter—and What’s Next

The holidays are a natural time for people to visit congregations:

• Nostalgia and Tradition: People seek out familiar spaces of warmth and meaning.
• Hopes, Wants, and Needs: The season inspires reflection about values, connection, and the future.

However, the real opportunity for growth begins after the holidays. This is when people are setting intentions, exploring possibilities, and deciding where they belong.

Your Role as Leaders

Your goal is to make the connecting process easy, intentional, and visible. As you promote holiday services, highlight what’s next—specific community events that invite people to connect in January.

2. The January Events Every Congregation Should Offer

To help newcomers transition from holiday visitors to active participants, offer events that are accessible, welcoming, and relational.

“Come for the Holidays, Stay for the Community” Event Lineup!

1. Game Night

   • A fun, low-barrier event that’s easy to imagine attending.
   • Perfect for all ages; intergenerational game nights can build community quickly.

   Pro Tip: Offer icebreakers or quick sharing opportunities:

   • “Pair up and share the story of how you came to be here.”
   • Host a mid-event building tour for newcomers to connect and learn about your community.
     
     

2. Parent Circle on a Hot Topic

   • Create space for parents to connect and discuss a relevant issue, like “AI and Our Children’s Future.”
   • Hold it before or after a service to align with your regular cycle.

   Why It Works:

   • Parents see that your congregation understands their challenges.
   • Small group discussions quickly foster relationships.

   Bonus Tip: Invite current members with families to attend and serve as hosts or facilitators.
   
   

3. Small Group Open House

   • Introduce newcomers to the small groups and programs that define your community.

   How It Works:

   • Leaders briefly share about their groups: what, when, and why it’s meaningful.
   • Break into short, mini-group sessions so participants can “sample” what’s offered.
   • Include a Welcome Team Circle for newcomers to connect directly with leaders.

   Pro Tip: Keep it light, brief, and interactive—no long speeches, just real connections.
   
   

4. Potluck

   • A classic, intergenerational gathering that builds relationships through shared meals.

   Ideas to Facilitate Connection:

   • Use table prompts like “Share the story of how you came to be here.”
   • Offer a brief moment during the potluck to acknowledge newcomers and invite small table-sharing opportunities.

   Remember: People connect best when they feel welcomed and included—so be intentional about introductions.

3. Facilitating Introductions at Your Events

One of the biggest challenges newcomers face is navigating a community where they don’t yet have relationships. It’s up to you to help facilitate these connections:

• Greeters and Hosts: Assign friendly leaders to welcome newcomers and introduce them to others.
• Structured Opportunities: Incorporate quick, low-pressure ways for people to share stories and connect.
• Newcomer Mini-Tours: Use mid-event breaks to show visitors around the space and connect them with each other.
• Name Tags: Simple but effective—everyone’s name is visible, reducing barriers.

The goal is to create a sense of belonging by making it easy for people to engage and build relationships.

4. Using Video Outreach to Invite People

Video is a powerful tool for engaging newcomers and inviting them to connect—especially during the holiday season.

Simple Video Invitation Strategy

1. Set the Scene: Record the video in your sanctuary or another meaningful space with holiday decorations in the background.
2. Deliver the Message:
   • Welcome viewers warmly.
   • Share your holiday message and focus (e.g., connection, shared values).
   • Invite them to join you for upcoming January events.
3. Be Authentic: Speak to people’s hopes, wants, and needs. Let them know your congregation is a place where they can connect and belong.
4. Promote It:
   • Post on your social media channels.
   • Use Facebook’s “boost” feature to reach people in your area who are similar to your members.

Sample Starter Script

“Hi, I’m [Your Name], and I want to invite you to join us this holiday season. Here at [Congregation Name], we’re coming together to focus on connection, shared values, and building community. If you’ve been looking for a place to connect, we’re here for you. In January, we’re hosting a Game Night, a Parent Circle on a hot topic, a Small Group Open House, and a community Potluck—all designed to help you connect with others. Come for the holidays, stay for the community!"   Elaborate...

That first part is what most people will see. Those who are curious will likely keep watching if you include more content.   Elaborate on everything you mentioned -- holiday services, connecting New Year events, and why we all need community, and why it is a good time to get involved.  Aim for 30 seconds for that first paragraph, then 90 seconds for the elaboration.  
 

5. Bringing It All Together

The holidays are the spark, but post-holiday events are where lasting connections are forged. By offering accessible, welcoming opportunities to connect in January, you create pathways for newcomers to move from visitors to engaged participants.

Key Takeaways:

• Promote January connecting events in your holiday messaging.
• Offer a mix of fun, relational, and small group experiences weaving in introductions and intentional community building.
• Use video to extend a warm, authentic invitation.
• Consider paying to boost video posts to your page, and the "look-a-like" audience within 10 miles using Facebook ads. 
• Help people come for the holidays and staying for the community! 

Conclusion

“Come for the holidays, stay for the community.”

By prioritizing connection, community, and clear next steps, you can transform holiday visitors into active, engaged members of your congregation. The new year is a time for fresh starts—let your community be the place where people find belonging, meaning, and connection.

If you have questions or want to share your experience, let me know. Together, we can make this season—and the new year—a time of growth and transformation.

Additional Resources to Support Your Congregation

As part of my work supporting congregations, I’ve developed resources and training opportunities to help you effectively engage your community, grow participation, and thrive in today’s changing world.

Ebook: Video Strategy for Thriving Congregations

I’m currently working on a comprehensive ebook that distills the core strategies I’ve been sharing with congregations for years. From pre-pandemic practices to digital approaches refined through recent challenges, this resource will help your congregation leverage video to connect with your community, both during the holidays and beyond.

• What’s Included: Practical tips, templates, and examples to create engaging, effective video outreach.
• Release Date: Coming soon—stay tuned for updates on my website!

Video Message Academy for Congregations 

Looking to dive deeper? I also offer an on-demand video strategy course designed to equip congregational leaders with the skills and tools to create compelling, connection-driven video content.

The next enrollment period for the course opens shortly in conjunction with the launch of the e-book. Subscribe here and I'll send you the details.

Training and Strategy Sessions for Congregational Leaders

I offer a variety of trainings, workshops, and strategy sessions tailored to clergy, staff, and volunteer leaders. Whether you’re looking for team training, inspiration for professional conferences, or strategies to enhance your outreach efforts, I can help.

• Offerings Include:
  • Team sessions for congregational staff and volunteers
  • Workshops and seminars for regional gatherings and conferences
  • Strategy sessions for clergy and leadership teams
  • Professional chapter and network trainings

My focus is on providing practical, actionable tools that align with your congregation’s mission, helping you foster connection, growth, and engagement in meaningful ways.

If you’d like to schedule a training or learn more about these offerings, contact me directly.

Meaning Spark AI: The summary notes for this session were developed by Meaning Spark AI in conversation with me and utilizing the session transcript.  I'm working with existing consumer AI large language models teaching them dynamic ethical reflection, mindfulness, and associated practices to nurture them as wisdom partners.