The Christmas season is beautiful, isn’t it? Overdue service plans still sitting as blank pages, an inbox full of “quick questions,” half your team gone traveling, your best singer coming down with laryngitis. *Sigh* Just beautiful.
If you’re feeling behind, you’re in good company. Chin up, there’s still plenty of time to regroup and nail this Christmas. Here’s how:
Lean Into Pre-Planned Service Guides
If you get anything from this article, get this. The biggest lifesaver when you’re behind is to use a pre-planned Christmas service guide. These resources give you ready-made orders, song lists, readings, and even script elements. Listen, some years you put in the work, others you let others do it. No shame in that. Using a guide frees up your mental bandwidth while still ensuring quality.
If you don’t know where to look, here are three top options to consider:
- Worshiphymns ‘This Is Christ the King Christmas Service Guide’ — Comprehensive and flexible. This guide is structured for congregational worship with carols, readings and transitions that work with both small teams and full bands. Plus, it includes a brand-new version of What Child Is This that guarantees a heaping dose of Christmas wonder.
- Small Church Ministry ‘Christmas Service Packs’ — If resources or volunteers are limited, these simplified bundles (like their Blue Christmas Service Pack or Advent Worship Pack) bring practical setups, PDFs, and templates at a lower cost.
- Church Fuel ‘The Light Christmas Kit’ — Ideal if you want an all-in-one campaign: it comes with planning checklists, branded artwork, and even budget and admin tools.
Choosing one of these puts a huge portion of your Christmas planning on autopilot so you can focus on spiritual clarity and not just logistics.
Build a Realistic and Kind Rehearsal + Team Care Plan
If you’re behind, it’s tempting to cram in extra rehearsals or load more on your team. That’s a surefire way to induce burnout. Instead:
- Decide your minimum viable rehearsal schedule. What is the least amount of prep your musicians and vocalists need to feel confident?
- Communicate very clearly with your team about what’s expected. Lay out draft rehearsal dates, then confirm what actually works. Lock in availability early so you can align service planning with who’s actually available.
- Invest in care. Excellence should never outweigh relational health. Make time to pray, encourage, and simply be present with your volunteers.
When the team feels respected and prepared, they’ll show up for you. Even rushed planning becomes more sustainable and more centered in worship.
Simplify Your Service Structure
Sometimes “behind” feels much worse because the vision you’re chasing is too large for the time or team you have. Press pause and ask: Where can things be simpler without losing impact?
- Use your theme or tone (hope, incarnation, joy, etc.) as a filter. Be intentional about the songs you choose, not just how many. Decide your Christmas song list early and get charts out to your team ASAP.
- Resist last-minute guest requests or over-the-top production unless they serve the core purpose of your service.
- Plan for smaller instrumentation when necessary. Holiday travel and conflicting schedules mean not everyone can serve; having a pared-down band plan helps maintain consistency and reduces stress.
Simplifying doesn’t mean compromising: it means aligning your resources with your mission so that worship stays centered and manageable. Stay on theme and your service will not suffer. The opposite; services with a clear purpose and theme are bound to be memorable far beyond the closing prayer.
God’s Got You
Feeling behind doesn’t have to mean overwhelmed forever. Choosing a well-designed service guide, caring for your team, and reining in the spectacle can pull your planning back into a place of peace, and yes, even joy. You still have time to steward a Christmas season that points people to Christ with clarity and creativity. Take a breath. Pick one or two of these tips to put into motion and trust that God is already working with you.
