Organising a Christmas Carol Event
This is a great opportunity, as it is easy to set up a Christmas carol service that links into the Christmas cheer. This is not something you can easily do at Easter or Pentecost!
1) Preparation: gather all the Christians at work to team up and take on individual roles:
-
Service format and sheet
-
Welcome (by the group leader, key senior manager, diversity representative?)
-
3 thumping and familiar carols
-
Readings
-
An enthusiastic and gifted Pastor to give a direct, good 10 min message
-
Only brief and topical prayers, by a fellowship member
-
Christmas blessing (Pastor?)
-
Obtain agreement of your managers/HR department to what you are planning to do
2) Think creatively about promoting the event (invitations in the company) with supporting activities, tapping into the ‘Christmas Spirit’:
-
Organising a departmental ‘Decorating’ competition, with the best decorated department winning free coffees or something
-
Getting people to buy anonymous presents for deprived children (NSPCC or local charity) or gifts for developing countries (World Vision, Oxfam, etc..)
-
Giving out free advent calendars
3) Make sure the event is timed, and finishes on time (30 mins sharp?).
4) For music, get your own band or the Salvation Army (one company used a small gospel band which proved very popular!).
5) Prepare Invitations / Posters
6) Think about providing food (mince pies & coffee?)
7) Think carefully about the meeting place (e.g. the company atrium or entrance hall)
8) Invite a management representative to read the lesson (? John 1.1-14), provide food afterwards and mingle with his workforce.
9) Tell any important folks’ PAs to put it in the bosses diaries
| ask HR / Diversity and Inclusion managers if your organisation will allow religious festivals to be highlighted on your work calendar |
| As a member of the police service, I've been called many names by the public I serve. Sadly, very few of them have been complimentary. In the Christmas story there are 16 names used for Jesus... |
| Videos of staff sharing what Christmas means to them. |
| A local Authority took up the challenge to create a Christmas video for all staff. More than just a bit of fun! |
| Here's an example from Thames Water's virtual carols from last Christmas. |
| It's a great opportunity for all to learn about Christian based Christmases. |
| Several Christian Workplace Groups have started choirs, find out more. |
| Where better to shine your light this Christmas than in your workplace? A number of Christian Workplace Groups are planning to take part in this initiative, why not join them? |
| Encourage other diversity networks to join in by asking them to read the Christmas story... |
| "Steve, I don't get it... what do you mean by a reverse advent calendar?" |
| In this article, Ambassador Steve Matthews shares his reflections on Sefton Council's 2019 Carol Service and Christmas display. |
| Fill a child’s life with joy this Christmas! |
| Great idea to have a fun online quiz and also bust a few myths about Christmas too. |
| Although there was enthusiasm to organise a carol service we felt it was too late for this year, or so we thought... |
| What’s a good way for a Christian Workplace Group to get across the Christmas message to others in the organisation and at the same time raise the profile of your group? |
| During the advent season why not retell the Christmas story on your intranet system |
| Another great Christmas song from the Christian Workplace Group in Thames Water, an inclusive organisation, allowing colleagues to express and share their faith at work for all staff. |
| The Sefton Council Christian Workplace Group brilliantly engage with the council on the importance of giving at Christmas. |
| Tackling debt - help your colleagues by publishing 10 top tips for staying out of debt this Christmas |
| Simple but effective way to celebrate Christmas with your colleagues and share the hope Jesus brings into life. |
| Encourage the local mayor to give you a 2-3 mins pre-recorded word |
| Below are some details of an activity undertaken by the HMRC group at Reading. |
| Thinking outside the box... Getting Quirky Creative at a local authority this Christmas |
| You are not forgotten. Add your name and any need you have to the Christmas Tree this year and we will pray for you. |
| Ask management if the Christian Workplace Group can put up some Christmas posters on notice boards to help decorate the office to get in the festive cheer. |
| Always worth asking your CEO / senior managers if they would be prepared to share... |
| Chris, who is involved in running a Christian Group in an international software company, told us about the exciting workplace initiative that the group launched at Christmastime. |
| Nothing like being part of a workplace Christmas choir for building good relationships with colleagues and supporting your workplace wellbeing. |
| Everyone loves chocolates at Christmas time... |
| One very simple idea at Christmas is to give a Christmas card to every employee. |
| A senior manager's view of the benefits of having a Christian group within her council, and her support for the carol service the group organised |
| Don’t do ‘church’ in work but make it fun and relevant by including items about your organisations and key senior people |
| Spend one of our group sessions planning your Christmas event together, here's a few ideas before, during and after |
| here are many forgotten people at work, those that live on their own, the cleaners and security night staff who start work when everyone else has gone home |