The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are full of invitations. Families gather, offices throw parties, and neighbors trade cookies over the fence. But the same season can feel very different for people who are far from home, working through the holiday, grieving, struggling to make ends meet, or living behind prison walls. For them, the holidays can be one of the loneliest times of the year.
That is exactly why this season is such a meaningful time for outreach. Congregations across The United Methodist Church have found creative ways to make room at the table for people who might otherwise be left out. Some of these ideas take a full year of planning, while others can come together in a few weeks. Below are real examples from United Methodist churches, plus a few additional ideas, to spark your own planning. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, this year, and Advent begins on November 29, so there is still time to try something new.
Thanksgiving ideas
Set a place for international students
When campus empties out for Thanksgiving break, many college students, especially international students, have nowhere to go. Members of Coffeyville First United Methodist Church in Kansas noticed this and began serving a hot Thanksgiving Day meal so students who stay on campus have good food and good company. For some guests, it is their very first experience of the American holiday.
If your church is near a college or university, reach out to the campus international student office or your local Wesley Foundation a few weeks ahead. Ask about dietary needs, since many students follow halal, kosher, or vegetarian diets, and consider offering rides from campus. A simple table card explaining Thanksgiving traditions can turn the meal into a warm cultural exchange.
Watch the story: Thanksgiving for international students
Feed the people who keep everyone safe
Firefighters, paramedics, police officers, nurses, and members of the military often work through the holiday. For thirteen years, Coraopolis United Methodist Church near Pittsburgh delivered hot Thanksgiving meals to people on duty and also hosted a full Thanksgiving dinner at the church so no one in the community has to eat alone.
To start, call your local fire station, police precinct, or hospital and ask how many people will be on shift and what time a meal would be most welcome. Include a handwritten thank-you card from your children or youth group, and be sure to ask about any rules for accepting food from outside groups.
Watch the story: Thanksgiving for military and first responders
Turn a bake sale into a mission gift
Outreach does not always mean hosting a large event. For the past four years, the United Women in Faith unit at one Nashville congregation has held a pre-Thanksgiving bake sale. The whole congregation bakes or buys breads, cakes, cookies, and pies to enjoy over the holiday. Past proceeds have supported the Wesley Foundation at Tennessee State University and Red Bird Mission, and this year the gift will go to Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, a National Mission Institution supported by United Women in Faith.
The beauty of this idea is that it connects something families already do, buying holiday desserts, with the wider mission of the church. Choosing a different beneficiary each year also gives you a fresh story to tell your congregation about how their gifts make a difference.
Share a holiday meal behind prison walls
Since 2001, volunteers from Christ United Methodist Church and West End United Methodist Church have served at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville with a simple message: you have not been forgotten. The ministry includes a communion service every Sunday at 8 a.m., which has continued for 25 years.
For about 20 of those years, the churches have also hosted a holiday meal. It was once held near Christmas, but scheduling moved it to the week before Thanksgiving. Over two evenings, volunteers serve a catered dinner of turkey, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and dessert to about 500 men in the facility's minimum-security units, along with the staff who work there. Many of the men are also part of the weekly communion services, so the meal deepens relationships that last all year.
The ministry continues into December. The whole congregation donates bars of soap, which are added to Christmas gift packages of toiletries, snacks, socks, and hats. Volunteers from several church groups and organizations help distribute those packages to every incarcerated man at Riverbend over about three nights.
Prison ministry requires patience and careful coordination. If your church feels called to it, start by contacting the facility chaplain, and expect background checks, volunteer training, and strict rules about what can be brought inside.
Watch the story: Prison ministry serves, supports for 25 years
Christmas ideas
Send Christmas cards to people in prison
If a full prison ministry is not possible right now, a handwritten card can still carry a powerful message. United Methodist churches in Pennsylvania wrote more than 8,000 Christmas cards for people in 10 correctional facilities. Volunteers shared that for some recipients, the card may be the only piece of mail they receive in years.
This is an easy project for Sunday school classes, youth groups, or an intergenerational fellowship night. Check with the facility or a prison ministry partner before you begin, since many institutions have rules about card types, decorations, and how mail must be addressed. Avoid glitter, stickers, and anything glued on.
Watch the story: Church Christmas cards show care to prisoners
Get details on where to send the Christmas cards here.
Open a Nativity museum
One UMC church invited the community to view its collection of Nativity sets from around the world. Displays like this show how cultures picture the birth of Jesus in their own ways, from the animals in the stable to the Magi arriving on camels or even elephants. Each variation carries its own cultural and biblical meaning.
You do not need a permanent museum to try this idea. Ask members to lend Nativity sets for a weekend display in your fellowship hall, with a short card telling where each set came from and any family story behind it. Offer hot cider, invite neighbors, and consider a children's scavenger hunt to spot the animals in each scene.
Tell the Christmas story in lights
Behind Grandville United Methodist Church in Michigan, a 15-minute light show set to music, with an original soundtrack, tells the story of Christmas. Displays like this draw visitors who might never attend a worship service but are happy to sit in their car or stroll the grounds with a cup of cocoa.
A smaller version can still make an impact. Light up your church grounds, add a few signs that walk visitors through the Christmas story, and post a QR code that links to your Christmas Eve service times. If you use recorded music, make sure you have permission to play it publicly.
Watch the story: Epic Christmas lights show
Walk the road to Bethlehem with Las Posadas
Las Posadas, which means "the inns" or "the lodgings," reenacts Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem. The celebration has been a tradition for centuries in Mexico and Central America and traditionally takes place over nine nights, from December 16 to 24. At many churches, the celebration moves from home to home, as host families welcome large groups into their homes. Filipino congregations share a similar tradition called Panunuluyan.
If your congregation includes Hispanic, Latino, or Filipino members, ask whether they would be willing to lead a Posada and share its meaning with the wider church. If not, consider partnering with a nearby Hispanic or Filipino congregation. Las Posadas is a powerful reminder that welcoming the stranger is at the heart of the Christmas story.
Watch the story: Learn more about Las Posadas on this episode of The Recap
Bring therapy dogs to Blue Christmas
Not everyone feels merry in December. A Blue Christmas or Longest Night service, often held on or near December 21, offers space for people who are grieving, lonely, or struggling. Pinnacle View United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, known for its pet-friendly ministries, has included therapy dogs as part of a Blue Christmas service. A calm, friendly dog can offer comfort in a way words sometimes cannot.
If you try this, work with a certified therapy-animal organization, and let people know ahead of time that dogs will be present so those with allergies or fears can plan accordingly.
Watch the story: Dog church welcomes people and pets
Open a last-minute toy store
For many families, the Christmas shopping season never really begins. A Nashville congregation responded by opening a toy store so parents struggling financially could find gifts for their children.
Many churches that host this kind of ministry let parents choose the gifts themselves rather than receive a pre-wrapped bag. Some charge a small amount, such as a few dollars per toy, so parents keep the dignity of giving. Add a gift-wrapping station staffed by volunteers and a cup of coffee for parents while they wait.
Watch the story: Last minute toy store
More ideas to consider
If none of the examples above fits your church, here are a few more ways to reach out this season:
- Carol where people cannot come to you. Visit nursing homes, assisted living centers, and homebound members. Bring a large-print song sheet so residents can sing along.
- Host a free gift-wrapping station. Set up at a local library or community center, and offer to wrap gifts for free. Have a small sign with your Christmas Eve service times.
- Give on GivingTuesday. GivingTuesday falls on December 1 this year. Invite members to gather together for a night of giving where refreshments are served, holiday stories shared, and a donation is gathered.
- Send care packages to college students. Mail cookies and a note to students from your congregation during final exams, letting them know their church family is praying for them.
- Offer a parents' night out. Give parents a few free hours in December to shop, wrap, or simply rest while trained volunteers care for their children at the church.
Tell the story and follow up
Outreach is ministry first, but it is also a story worth sharing. Take photos (with permission), collect a few short quotes from volunteers and guests, and share them on your website, social media, and e-newsletter. These stories inspire your congregation, show your community who your church is, and may encourage another church to try something similar.
Be especially careful about privacy. Do not photograph people receiving help without their permission, and follow all facility rules about cameras when serving in prisons, hospitals, or care centers.
Finally, plan the next step. A guest who enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal or a light show may be open to returning for Christmas Eve or a January event. ResourceUMC's tips for following up with Christmas Eve visitors offer helpful ideas for turning a first visit into a lasting connection.
Bringing it all together
You do not need a big budget or a large staff to make a difference this holiday season. A single meal, a stack of handwritten cards, or a borrowed collection of Nativity sets can tell someone that they are seen and loved. Start with the gifts and passions already present in your congregation, look around your community to see who might be left out, and make room at the table.
With over 20 years of experience across various media outlets, Renee McNeill has guided brands in crafting and executing effective strategies for both internal marketing and public-facing campaigns. As a specialist in social media and e-marketing, Renee is passionate about empowering churches worldwide to enhance their communications and marketing efforts.Renee is the producer of the MyCom brand, and can be reached at [email protected].
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