Let's Unwrap the Christmas Campaign Resources for 2024

The theme of our Christmas campaign for 2024 is Follow the Star: Calm and Bright. Inspired by the beloved carol "Silent Night," this campaign focuses on bringing peace and joy during the busy Advent and Christmas season. As we journey from Advent to Epiphany, we invite you to join us in finding moments of calm amidst the chaos and celebrating the brightness of the Christmas story. Read more on the campaign story here.

In recent years, one of the most popular trends in social media and digital content is the focus on mindfulness and calmness in our busy world. Content that encourages moments of reflection and peace, such as "slow living" videos or guided prayer, is gaining popularity on platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram, and Facebook Reels. This trend aligns perfectly with this year’s theme of "Calm and Bright," offering an opportunity to create content that invites your community to pause, reflect, and find serenity during a time that can often feel stressful.

With the above in mind, let's unwrap this year's campaign elements and resources. 

Christmas webinars

Webinars continue to be a fantastic way to learn, and we have several you can attend:

1. Special Webinar: The Digital Promo Planner. Join us on Monday, 16 October, for a practical session designed to help your church connect with more people through digital media this Christmas. We'll introduce our brand-new Digital Promo Planner, which provides a comprehensive guide to strategising and organising your church's digital content. This planner is distinct from other resources, offering a focused, structured approach to planning and promoting your Christmas events and services. Learn more and register your interest.

2. Special Webinar: Digital Giving this Advent and Christmas. This webinar will dive into Digital Giving and how it can benefit your church, whether through online donations, contactless giving, or in-person contributions. We’ll provide templates for promoting donation QR codes and demonstrate how to edit these on Canva. Additionally, we'll explore strategies to encourage generosity during the Advent and Christmas period. Register for this insightful session here. 

• Custom Image and Video Generator: Reflections poster and other templates from A Church Near You (registration required). 

Where to Start?

Now that most of the resources are available, consider this question: what are your hopes for your church this Christmas?

Whether you're aiming to increase the attendance of children and young people at your services and events or hoping for greater community engagement with your Christmas content, it's important to define your goals clearly. Then, think about how the "Calm and Bright" resources can help you achieve these objectives. How can you use digital platforms to spread the word?

Once you have a clear idea, start listing your events across the appropriate digital platforms, such as AChurchNearYou.com, your website, and social media. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow you to list events and engage with your audience at the same time. Be sure to list your events at least eight weeks in advance to better plan your content and help people to plan their diaries.

Content inspiration

• Moments of calm: Encourage your community to share their own moments of calm during the Advent and Christmas season. This could be a short video or image capturing a peaceful scene, a moment of quiet reflection, or a calming activity. Use hashtags like #CalmAndBright to create a collective sense of peace and unity online.

• Reflective content: Share daily reflections or short meditative videos that encourage viewers to pause and reflect on the themes of Advent and Christmas. This could be a simple reading, a short prayer, or a guided meditation inspired by the Christmas story.

• Behind the scenes: Share behind-the-scenes content of your church's preparations for Advent and Christmas. Show how you create a calm, inviting atmosphere in your church, from setting up decorations to preparing for reflective services. This kind of content can inspire others to find peace and joy in their own preparations.

• Calm spaces: Create and share videos or images of calm, contemplative spaces in your church where people can come for quiet reflection and prayer. Highlighting these spaces can encourage your community to seek moments of peace during the busy season.

Rewatch the Launch Webinar

We recently held a launch webinar to introduce this year’s campaign. If you missed it or want to watch it again, you can find the recording here. It covers everything you need to know about this year's resources and how to use them effectively.

So, there you have it—this year's Christmas resources unwrapped and ready for you to incorporate into your plans for the season. We look forward to seeing what you create, so be sure to use #CalmAndBright in your posts so we can see and celebrate your efforts. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for more resources and support with how to use them.