Does your church have enough volunteers for Christmas services? What about all those extra activities you’re hosting throughout December: Christmas concerts, family photo booths, gift drives, and community outreach events? If your answer is “no” or “I hope so,” now is the time to do something about it. You’ll probably need more volunteers for Christmas than you do for a typical Sunday. And simply relying on your usual volunteer system may not be enough.
Christmas also brings something else with it: people who don’t normally attend your church. There may be more first-time guests checking in their children, more people arriving in the parking lot, and more people walking into your building with no idea where to go. That’s wonderful! But without enough volunteers, things can get chaotic quickly.
The good news is that Christmas can also be a great opportunity to recruit new volunteers. Someone who isn’t ready to commit to serving every Sunday might be perfectly willing to help at one Christmas event. That one-time opportunity can become the first step toward becoming a regular volunteer. Here are some ways to make that happen.
1. Figure Out What Roles You Need
Before recruiting volunteers, make a list of every role you’ll need to fill for Christmas. Don’t just think about your normal Sunday positions. Think about anything special or new you’re doing.
You might need:
- Parking volunteers
- Greeters
- Children’s check-in volunteers
- Ushers
- Hospitality volunteers
- Setup and teardown help
- Photo booth volunteers
- Communion assistants
- Scripture readers
- Event-specific helpers
Give each role a simple description so people know exactly what they’re signing up to do. People are much more likely to say yes when they know exactly what “yes” means.
2. Know What Serving Will Actually Look Like
Before asking people to serve, figure out what you’re asking them to do. Will they need to arrive early? Will they serve during the entire service? Will they need to stay afterward? Where should they park? Where should they meet? Who will they report to?
Christmas volunteers shouldn’t have to figure all of that out when they arrive.
Create a simple schedule or service plan that outlines what will happen and when. You don’t need to give every volunteer a 10-page document. Just make sure the important information is clear. The better you can answer their questions before Christmas, the more confident they’ll feel when they show up.
3. Identify Your Volunteer Leaders First
If you have people who lead different volunteer teams, talk to them before recruiting everyone else. Your Christmas services may be busier than normal, and you’ll have plenty to think about. You need people you trust who can help keep their teams organized.
Make sure your volunteer leaders know:
- What their team is responsible for
- How many people they need
- When volunteers should arrive
- Where everyone should meet
- What special instructions they need to know
Then, when new volunteers sign up, connect them with the appropriate leader. Your leaders can help train them, answer questions, and make sure they have a good experience.
4. Start Asking Now
Don’t wait until the week before Christmas to start recruiting! Talk to your regular volunteers on Sunday mornings. Send emails. Mention the opportunities in your church announcements. Ask current volunteers if they know someone who might be willing to help.
And don’t only ask people who are already serving. Christmas can be an excellent opportunity to invite someone who has never volunteered before. The commitment is limited. They aren’t necessarily saying, “I’ll serve every Sunday for the next year.” They’re merely saying, “I can help with this Christmas event.” That’s a much easier first step for someone who isn’t sure whether volunteering is for them.
5. Make It Easy to Say Yes
The easier you make the process, the more likely people are to participate. Instead of saying, “We need lots of volunteers for Christmas,” give people specific opportunities:
- “Could you help greet people at the 9:00 service?”
- “Would you be willing to help with children’s check-in for Christmas Eve?”
- “Could you help with the photo booth for two hours?”
Specific requests are easier to answer than a vague invitation to “get involved.” And make sure people know how to sign up. Don’t make them track down three different people to figure out where they’re needed.
6. Communicate Before Christmas
Once people sign up, don’t disappear until Christmas morning. Send a reminder during the week before your services. Include the information they actually need:
- Their volunteer role
- Arrival time
- Where they should meet
- Where they should park
- Who their leader is
- Anything they need to bring or know
If there are multiple services, make sure they know which service or services they’re serving. A short, clear reminder can prevent a surprising number of problems.
7. Take Care of Your Volunteers
Christmas can be exhausting for volunteers, especially those serving multiple services. Take care of them.
Provide coffee, water, and some snacks. Give them a place to gather before the service if possible. Make sure they have an opportunity to take a break when they’re serving for long stretches. Most importantly, treat them like people rather than extra labor. A volunteer who feels appreciated is much more likely to want to serve again.
8. Thank Them
Don’t let Christmas end without thanking the people who served. A handwritten note is great, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. A sincere thank-you from a pastor, ministry leader, or volunteer coordinator can mean a lot.
And don’t only thank the people who were visible. Remember the parking volunteers, children’s workers, setup crew, tech volunteers, hospitality team, and everyone else who helped make the services happen behind the scenes.
9. Follow Up With New Volunteers
This may be the most important step if you want Christmas to help grow your regular volunteer team. After Christmas, contact the people who volunteered for the first time and ask them how it went. Did they enjoy serving? Was anything confusing? Would they be interested in helping again?
Don’t assume they’ll automatically sign up for another opportunity. They may have had a great experience but aren’t sure whether you need them again. They may simply need someone to ask.
Your volunteer leaders can also follow up with new volunteers they worked with directly. Sometimes that personal connection is the easiest path toward getting someone involved regularly.
Christmas Is an Opportunity
Recruiting enough volunteers for Christmas isn’t just about filling holes on a schedule. It’s an opportunity to introduce new people to the joy of serving.
Someone who isn’t ready to make a long-term commitment may be willing to help for one Christmas service. Give them a good experience. Train them well. Appreciate them. Follow up afterward. They may discover that serving isn’t just something they can do, but something they genuinely enjoy.
