Christmas social media posts for UK churches
Christmas brings more people into UK churches than any other time of year. Families come to the nativity, friends come to the carol service, and people who have not been to church in years come on Christmas Eve. Almost all of them look at your church online first, to check the time, the place and whether they will feel welcome.
That makes your social media over Christmas one of your church’s most important ways of welcoming people and sharing the good news of Jesus. This guide covers what to post, when to post it, and how to make it easy for your church family to invite their friends.
This year Christmas Eve is on Thursday 24 December and Christmas Day is on Friday 25 December.
The one post that matters most
If you only make one Christmas post, make it a clear list of every service:
- carol services
- nativity or crib service
- Christingle, if you hold one
- Christmas Eve services
- Christmas Day service
Include the day, date, time and place for each, and add “Everyone welcome”. Post it by the end of November, pin it to the top of your Facebook page, add it to your Instagram highlights, and make a version sized for WhatsApp. Most people invite their friends by forwarding a picture on WhatsApp, so give them one.
A simple Christmas timeline
Late November
- Post and pin the full Christmas list.
- Ask your church family to invite one friend each, and give them the WhatsApp graphic to share.
Early December
- Individual invitations for each carol service, one or two weeks before.
- A short video from your minister: “We’d love to see you at our carol service.” Keep it under 30 seconds.
- A welcome post for visitors: what to expect, how long the service lasts, whether there is parking, and what is on for children.
The week before Christmas
- Reminders the day before each service.
- Behind-the-scenes photos: the tree going up, the band rehearsing, volunteers preparing mince pies.
- A gentle post for people who find Christmas hard, with an invitation to talk or pray.
Christmas Eve
- A morning post with the times of the day’s services.
- Photos from the crib or nativity service (with consent).
- A late evening post if you hold a Christmas Eve communion or midnight service.
Christmas Day
- An early post with the time of your Christmas Day service.
- “Happy Christmas” with a photo from the service and a verse such as Luke 2:11.
- Keep it short. People are with their families, and one warm post is enough.
Between Christmas and New Year
- A thank you post for everyone who served.
- The carol service talk as a short clip or a link, for anyone who wants to hear it again.
- An invitation to come back in January, ideally to something specific such as a course, a new sermon series or a welcome lunch.
If you prefer to prepare everything in one go, schedule the whole of December in late November. Our guide to how to schedule church social media posts explains how.
Carol services
Carol services are the biggest invitation of the year for most churches.
- Make the invitation personal. “Bring a friend to carols” works better than a list of times on its own.
- Say what it is like. Candlelit, family friendly, about an hour, mince pies afterwards. People are more likely to come when they can picture it.
- Be clear about the message. A short line about why Jesus came helps visitors know that this is more than a concert.
- Follow up. After the service, thank everyone who came and mention what is on in January.
If you have several carol services, such as a community carols, a school carol service and your own church carol service, give each its own invitation post a week before.
Nativity and children’s services
- Invite families three to four weeks ahead. Many book their December weekends early.
- Explain whether children can dress up and what they need to bring.
- Share photos afterwards, but check consent for every child who can be identified. Wide shots of the whole stage or the congregation are often the simplest option. See posting photos of children at church for what to check.
Christmas Bible verses for graphics
- “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11, NIV)
- “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14, NIV)
- “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)
- “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NIV)
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)
Caption ideas
Adapt these to your own church and services.
Carol service invitation
Join us for Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 20 December at 6pm. Familiar carols, readings and the story of the first Christmas, with mince pies afterwards. Everyone is welcome, and children too.
Visitor welcome
Coming to church this Christmas, maybe for the first time in a while? You’d be very welcome. Services last about an hour, there’s parking next to the church, and children are welcome at every service. If you have any questions, just send us a message.
Christmas Day
Happy Christmas from all of us at church! “Today a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11, NIV)
After Christmas
Thank you to everyone who joined us this Christmas, and to all our volunteers. If you’d like to find out more about the Jesus we celebrated, we’d love to see you on Sunday 10 January as we start our new series.
People who find Christmas hard
Christmas is painful for many people: the bereaved, the lonely, those facing money worries or family breakdown. A short, gentle post in mid-December can mean a great deal.
- Acknowledge that Christmas can be hard.
- Offer something practical: a quiet service, a Christmas Day lunch, a time when someone is available to talk, or details of local support.
- Keep the tone warm and simple, without a call to action beyond “you’re welcome”.
Getting ready
Start with the Christmas list graphic and the WhatsApp invitation, then schedule the rest. For the four weeks before Christmas, see our Advent social media ideas, and for help writing the text for your invitations, our church announcement templates are a good starting point.
ChurchReach includes Christmas templates, Bible verse graphics and scheduling to Facebook, Instagram and X, so your whole Christmas plan can be ready before December begins.