Looking for a Christmas Eve Service? Quick 5-Step Guide to Find Your Fit

Are you thinking of attending a Christmas Eve church service but don't know where to go? Is there something about a candlelight service that seems appealing to you this year? Do you have a little hesitancy because church is not really part of your life right now? Would you like some ideas on finding what you're looking for?

It pays to take your time. Rushing into choosing a church without considering enough factors can lead to a misfit.

This article provides a quick and easy step-by-step guide to assist in your search. It begins with several introspective questions to raise self-awareness about what you're looking for. Then, I will show you how to locate the information needed for your decision-making process.

I pray that God leads you to a place where you can experience an inspired celebration of the true meaning of Christmas...and that you may even find yourself returning again on another Sunday.

Before we jump in, if you're wondering what to expect at a Christmas Eve Service, here's a brief snippet of a typical order of service:

Greeting
Singing Christmas songs, accompanied by musical instruments. Lyrics are projected on a screen, or the worship leader will direct everyone to each song's page in hymnal books located on the seat backs. Commonly, two or three traditional Christmas carols are sung.
Sermon. Often, pastors center their message around a theme found in the Christmas story, for example, hope.
Singing a closing song. Many churches provide candles (wax or battery operated) to be used for the closing song.

Step 1:

Reflect on your past church experience to identify your interests & reservations

Do you have an idea of the type of atmosphere you would like for a Christmas Eve Service, and if so, what does it look like?

If you're unsure, let's see if these questions can help bring a picture into view.

What did you grow up hearing about church? Have you ever been to church? What did you like about it? Do you have any reservations when you think about spirituality? Are there any church features that you really love or turn you off, and if so, what are they? It may be encouraging to know that even Jesus took issue with some religious practices that were active during His time on earth; and it's also important to understand that church was established by Jesus. There is wisdom in constructive evaluation so you can find a church where you can grow closer to Jesus and build friendships. Considering your feelings on this topic will help when you get to step 5 below.

Step 2:

Identify general social-setting characteristics where you feel most comfortable

Churches come in all shapes and sizes, which can provide more options than you may think. To help you home in on the atmosphere you'd like, give a little thought to these questions:

When it comes to parties and other events, do you prefer formal or casual environments? In the sphere of spirituality, do you consider yourself more traditional or modern? Is the size of a gathering important to you, and if so, what size? Are you looking for a place where there will be a lot of people in your age bracket? Would it be a deal-breaker for you if the service is crowded? What about music - does the genre or volume matter to you? (On this topic, beware of applying consumerism to church "shopping" - there is no perfect church and being too picky isn't good for anyone.)

Step 3:

Decide if you are open to various denominations

The topic of "denominations" can be touchy, perplexing, or a non-issue. The questions below are intended to assist in determining options you would consider. (If you have no preference, you can skip this step.)

As you begin looking at the choices in your area, you may discover a Christmas Eve Service's description that piques your interest but is at a church belonging to a denomination you never pictured yourself visiting. Mulling over these questions may bring freedom to go where you want, even if it's a different than what you originally sought out:

What denominations are you open to? Is there only one particular church or denomination you would consider, and if so, which one? Do you know why that is important to you? In your experience, have you connected personally with God at the church(es) you've attended, or have you felt like something is missing? Are you concerned family members would be upset if you tried someplace different than where they go?

If you have mixed emotions or conflicting desires, I encourage you to pray about it. Just talk with God like you would talk with a friend. Tell Him about your thoughts and concerns and ask for clarity and peace.

Step 4:

Familiarize yourself with the essential beliefs held by all biblical churches

While there are many church options, it is important to know that not all of them are aligned with Scripture.

To make it easier to determine if a particular church is grounded in the Word of God, spend some time familiarizing yourself on the Essential Core Beliefs of Biblical Churches:

There is only One God and He is three-in-one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We are saved by grace, not works, only through the death (for the penalty for our sins) and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God.

In the next step, you'll learn where to find out if a church is aligned with these teachings of Scripture.

Step 5:

Look up the churches in your area

You're ready to start looking around at your local options. Simply type in an online search engine, "Christmas Eve Services near me" (alternately, you could search for churches in general since most of them will have a holiday gathering).

Open the website of any you are considering and find the Page listing their Beliefs. This will help you determine if the sermon will be about the true meaning of Christmas - that Jesus (who is fully God) came to earth, taking on human form, so He could take upon Himself the sins of all people to make a way for all who choose to put their trust in Him to receive forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal salvation. Keeping the beliefs outlined in step 4 above nearby, compare what you read on the church websites with the summary in step 4. If you are looking for clarification on a church's beliefs, you can try talking with Christ-followers in your life, asking the church for which you're considering, reading the other articles recommended below, and asking God to guide you.
Once you locate a service you'd like to attend, find out if you need to pre-register. This may sound odd, but it makes sense when you know the reason. Due to the popularity of Christmas Eve Services (with many congregations reporting double the attendance compared to a typical Sunday), it is not uncommon for seats to run out - even when additional service times are offered. To mitigate this and make the experience as enjoyable as possible, many churches request that people sign up, which allows them to "close" service times from additional registrations when they fill up. Understand though that signing up does not mean a specific seat is being reserved for you. You can expect that people who have not pre-registered will come and it is not outside the possibility that this could lead to "standing room only." If this is a deal-breaker for you, I suggest arriving early. You can also call or email the office to find out if there's a time that is most commonly lightly attended, and what time they recommend you arrive to make seat-finding easier.
Watch videos of the services to get a feel for the atmosphere.

Is the preaching engaging and does it sound relevant to you? If you want an inspiring and transformational experience, you need to resonate with the message. Timeless truths of the Christmas story still speak to issues of today. Connecting with Jesus is the most meaningful gift you could ever receive. It brings soul-satisfaction that changes everything.

Does the music stir your soul or is it distracting? Music can vary from traditional hymns to soulful gospel to contemporary praise songs. Whatever the genre, the lyrics declare worship of God and help churchgoers-goers feel close to Him. Keep in mind that what you see in the videos is not necessarily what you get at a Christmas Eve Service. On a typical Sunday, there may be mostly modern music, but during the holiday it is likely that traditional Christmas hymns will be sung.

Ask your remaining questions, whether it be about size, average age of members, parking, recommended arrival time, or anything else that would be helpful for you to know. For these types of inquiries, you can call or email the church office.

Takeaway

Christmas is a special time of year to attend church. Between the nostalgia, festive atmosphere, meaningful message, and familiar music, attending a service can add depth to your holiday celebration.

It is perfectly acceptable to evaluate if a particular church is a good fit for you. Being selective, if it is coming from a desire to engage in genuine community, does not mean you are being critical.

As you begin your search, I want to stress the most important characteristic to look for: alignment with Scripture. There are many churches that will deliver a hollow message that may entertain but won't enlighten. When all the Christmas festivities have passed, the gift of Jesus keeps on giving. As it says in Matthew 1:23, Jesus is the way to a personal relationship with God transforming lives for all eternity.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)." - Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

Are you looking for more information to help you narrow down what you want?

Check out these articles:

And if you live in the Concord NH area, check out this article: Christmas Eve Services in Concord NH in 2025 (details for 5 churches)

Do you want to learn more about Jesus, Christianity, or the Bible?