Worship leader Jake Gosselin shares some great tips for planning your church’s Christmas Eve service.
Jake encourages keeping things simple but meaningful for Christmas Eve. Go easy on the full band and production elements. Jake says most attendees will be perfectly happy singing a few familiar carols with a stripped-back group like acoustic guitar, keys, pads and vocals.
In terms of music selection, Jake suggests starting with an upbeat favorite like “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.” Follow it up with a powerful arrangement of “O Holy Night” before closing with the classic “Silent Night.” Check out the Kim Walker version of “O Holy Night” for a simple but beautiful arrangement.
For chord charts, Jake recommends heading to ReawakenHymns.com for excellent, modernized versions of Christmas carols that can easily be imported into Planning Center. He’s also using a nice “O Holy Night” chart he found on PraiseCharts.
In presentation software like ProPresenter, Jake advises keeping lyric slides clean and simple – just two lines of text in a large, easy-to-read font on a nice Christmas background. ChurchMotionGraphics offers some festive options.
Even without full backing tracks, Jake puts together a basic Ableton session to lock in tempo and automate lyrics. He finds free guide tracks at MultiTracks.com and ambient pads at ChurchFrontPads.com to fill out the sound.
Most importantly, keep the service brief, focused on Scripture, and make time for reflective moments like candle lighting. As Jake notes, Christmas Eve tends to be a simple, nostalgic service centered on the Christmas story.
For more planning tips, be sure to check out Jake’s full video over on the Churchfront YouTube channel. It has even more wisdom to ensure your Christmas Eve service is both meaningful and stress-free!
