There are two church services each year which have an elevated level of importance – Easter and Christmas Eve. Tonight, my wife and I attended Piedmont Church in Marietta, Ga who was hosting the first of their many Christmas Eve services.
Led by the incomparable senior pastor Ike Reighard, Piedmont is a church who is literally transforming the community in which they reside. For more on how Piedmont impacts the city of Marietta during Christmas specifically read 12 Practices Of Highly Effective Churches Who Serve Their Community With Excellence.
In an effort to document what made our experience so wonderful, the following are 15 Things Churches Do To Put On Christmas Eve Services People Will Love we experienced at Piedmont Church:
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Focus On Jesus – An introductory video was shown reminding people Christmas is all about Jesus.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Acknowledge The Felt Needs Of People – The video also discussed the chaos, stress, and busyness we all feel during this time of year. Fortunately, the video once again reminded us Christmas is about Jesus.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Create A Festive Atmosphere – The sanctuary was beautifully decorated and had classical Christmas music playing as people entered the sanctuary.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Open With A BANG – After the introductory video, the service started with a powerful guitar solo. As Ike told me afterwards, a space shuttle uses 65% of its fuel during takeoff because you must break the force of gravity. People attending your Christmas Eve services are weighted down by the pressures of life. You must use a lot of fuel out during the opening of your service to allow people to fully-engage.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Offer 2nd Chances – Ike’s focal passage was John 3:16-17 which states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not sent His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Ike pointed out Jesus’ birth was not to condemn the world. But rather, to give the world and each of us a second chance.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Remind Them Of God’s Priceless Gifts To Us – The priceless gifts are forgiveness of sins, a specific purpose for their lives, hope for the future, and the peace only God can bring.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Give The People An Opportunity To Be Generous To Others – Piedmont’s Christmas Eve offerings go to assist a number of relief agencies in our community. Ike discussed the issue of homelessness and noted after analyzing all the statistical data, the picture of homelessness is sadly that of a 12-year-old girl. This information reminded us how blessed we are and gave us an opportunity to help meet the needs of others.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Offer Hope – Life is very hard. As Ike reminded us, a personal relationship with Jesus offers us a hope-filled future. But that hope also offers us the ability to do whatever we need to do in the present.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Give Us At Least One Chris Tomlin Song – I’m just saying. Thank you for singing Glory In The Highest.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Make The Service An Experience – People may forget what you say. They will never forget how you made them feel. During one of the songs, a machine caused snow to fall on us from above. Nice touch.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Offer Communion – This allows your people to slow down and effectively connect with the heart of God.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Sing O’ Holy Night – No explanation required for the greatest Christmas song ever written.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Are Generous – It is Christmas after all. Ike signed free copies of his devotional book The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar as gifts for all visitors.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Make Adjustments – One of the many reasons Piedmont offered a December 20th Christmas Eve service was to learn what worked well and what could be improved. Key learnings from tonight will determine the order of worship for their December 23rd and 24th services.
- Churches Who Put On Christmas Eve Services Your People Will Love Are Filled With Love – As my wife pointed out, seeing the staff and many leaders at Piedmont is like visiting family.
What is one thing from this list you can incorporate into your Christmas Eve services?
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