It may seem like October feels early to think about Christmas. You’ve barely caught your breath from fall kickoff, and here I am telling you to think about a program that’s ten weeks away.
But your December self doesn’t care that it feels early. She cares whether the curriculum is ordered, whether the volunteers know what they’re doing (whether there are actually volunteers in place), and whether you get to enjoy the Christmas Eve service.
Luke 14:28 talks about counting the cost before you build the tower, sitting down first and figuring out if you have what you need to finish it. And while it’s a warning against starting something you can’t complete, it’s also permission to plan ahead on purpose, instead of treating every busy season like it snuck up on you.
So here’s what October You can do for December You:
- Decide what you’re doing. Nail down the actual shape of your Christmas season now: the services, the events, the family nights, whatever it is this year. Vague plans in October become panicked plans in November, and you don’t have to live that way twice.
- Decide what you’re NOT doing. This one might matter more than the first list. Naming what you’re skipping this year, on purpose, frees up the time and budget for what you actually want to do well instead of doing everything stretched thin.
- Set goals. What do you actually want December to accomplish, beyond just surviving it? Maybe it’s a certain number of families connected, a specific discipleship moment you want kids to walk away with, or just a program that doesn’t require three staff members to run on fumes. Write it down now so you can measure against it later.
- Set (or check) your budget. Once you know what you’re doing, put a real number on it so you’re not making purchasing decisions in a panic in week two of December. Do you have a surplus from earlier in the year that gives you a little more wiggle room? Or a deficit that means you need to adjust some plans?
- Choose Christmas curriculum. Whatever you’re teaching, choose it now while you still have the mental space to actually read through it and make it your own. A curriculum you chose thoughtfully in October teaches a lot better than one you skimmed the night before. (And if you are looking for a new Christmas curriculum, check these out!)
- Choose a family resource. If you’re sending something home with parents this season, this is the month to lock it in. Parents are the primary disciplers in a kid’s life, and the church is there to partner with them, so give yourself time to build something that actually helps families engage instead of something rushed out the door. (These family resources may help spark some ideas!)
- Identify volunteer needs. Look at what you’re doing and figure out exactly who and how many you’ll need to pull it off. Volunteers are doing holy work, and holy work deserves more than a last-minute group text asking who’s free.
- Schedule family time and time off. Put your own family on the calendar before ministry fills every open square. You can’t pour into other people’s families all season and skip your own, so protect it now while you still have room to choose it on purpose.
You don’t have to do all eight of these in one sitting, and you don’t have to narrow down ALL the details. Pick the one that’s been nagging at you the most and start there, then work through this list this month. Map out the general plans and outlines now so you can jump into bringing them to life later on.
December You is already grateful.
And if you want help walking through a full Christmas plan now, join us for our next online workshop happening Thursday, October 1 as we plan out your kidmin Christmas! In this 90-minute online workshop, you’ll learn how to make your December in children’s ministry meaningful and manageable by focusing on the people, the events, and the message of Christmas. And because we’re starting early, you won’t just gather ideas for December; you’ll actually begin planning for it. If you can’t make it live, your registration includes access to the replay! Learn more and save your spot here.
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