Tired Of Youth Ministry Christmas Parties? 3 Ways To Approach Advent Differently

I used to collapse in front of the television on Christmas Eve, not because my kids had worn me out, but it was the church. Between Christmas parties and all the work we had to do for Christmas Eve Mass it was easy to lose sight of why this season is so important.

Even if Advent isn’t a crazy season for you it’s easy to get stuck in the predictable. It’s easy to lose momentum because people are focused on other things that don’t include your ministry. Instead of giving up, try changing your approach by:

Focusing Fully On Prayer

Put away the talks, and tone down the games. At first people might push back but what you want to offer them instead is peace. Turn your nights of ministry into a place of retreat from the busyness that occurs everywhere else.

Invite teens to gather for a few decades of the rosary, or spend time in silent adoration. If you are afraid to abandon the traditional fun then just shift some of the time at the beginning or your ministry to do something calming.

Put Your Attention Towards Service 

Several years ago a few churches gathered together to start something called the Advent Conspiracy. It was a chance to remind ourselves that this season is all about relationships. While teens are thinking about friends, and family, remind them to think about those in your community who are lonely.

Take a week away from the usual to do something service oriented. Best step is to check in with your outreach coordinator or missions director to see if the church has any initiatives. If not reach out to local non profits and see what their needs will be.

When you focus on service you help teens discover joy in a new way. Instead of looking at fulfilling their own they can start looking at bringing it to the rest of the world.

Get Off Campus 

Give your building a rest. If you think about it there is a lot that needs to get done in regards to preparing for Christmas Eve and everything that comes with it having youth ministry take a hiatus isn’t a bad thing. But, at the same time you don’t want to kill the momentum.

Instead of cancelling the program get the groups to meet off campus in homes or in a local business. If you have a relationship with a certain restaurant or coffee house see if you can get a deal for your groups or private meeting space. If you meet in homes, see if you can offer host homes a stipend or give them a homemade gift like Christmas cookies. Regardless, encourage them to use this time to be a light in the community.

Granted, any type of change means a little bit more work at first, but in the end the switch up can have a larger impact. People are craving joy and peace and the changes you make could offer them just that.

How do you approach things differently during the Advent Season?

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