Christmas in July: How to get ahead before the holiday madness hits

Not to scare any production leads out there, but… we’re officially halfway to Christmas. We know, it feels like summer just started and the idea of planning for December might make your eye twitch. But if you’ve ever lived through the holiday season in church production, you already know: Christmas is one of the busiest, most all-hands-on-deck times of the year. Which means now is the perfect time to get ahead of it.

Whether you’re in charge of the full-blown creative direction or just trying to keep your team afloat during candlelight services, here are a few practical steps you can take this month to make your December self very grateful.

1. Start dreaming up the big picture

If you are the one casting creative vision, this is the time to get started. Talk themes. Talk visuals. Talk stage design. You don’t have to have it all figured out, but July is the ideal moment to gather inspiration, talk to your leadership team, and sketch out a direction before fall kicks in. Trust us- come August and September you’ll be thrilled you did this now. Not sure where to begin? Try:

• Rewatching last year’s Christmas service to reflect on what worked (and what didn’t)
• Meeting with your worship leader to align on tone and messaging
• Browsing ProContent slides for design ideas you can tailor to your message

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2. Even if you're not leading creative, you can still get ahead

Maybe you’re not the one picking themes or building stage elements, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do some solid prep work. In fact, there are plenty of things you can take off your future plate right now.‍ Pull up the last five Christmases and ask yourself:

• What did we repeat every year?
• What did people love that we’ll probably do again?
• What always sneaks up on us and causes last-minute stress?

Odds are high that if you had candle-lit worship last year… it’s coming back. Now’s the time to check your candle inventory or get new ones ordered.

Did your team put up Christmas trees in the atrium? Make a note to fluff, clean, or order more if needed. Stringed lights around the building? Plug them in now and see what works- and what doesn’t. You don’t want to be panic-ordering new lights in December when prices are up and stock is down. (Bonus: they’re often on sale this time of year!)

3. Start growing your volunteer team (yes, now!)

One of the biggest Christmas challenges? Having enough volunteers. If you wait until December to get people to join the team, they’ll feel it- and so will you. Instead, start the slow build now. A few ways to get ahead:

• Plan a volunteer push this fall to onboard fresh faces
• Host a low-pressure learning night where people can try out gear or shadow a position
• Pour into your current team so they’re energized, not exhausted, come December

Build relationships early so your crew doesn’t feel like a holiday task force, they’ll feel like part of the story.

December starts in July (kind of)

No one’s saying you need to go full red and green right now. But a little intentional prep in July can set your team up for success—and save your sanity—once the holiday season hits full speed. You’ve got this! Let prepping in July be your secret weapon to success.