Boosting Engagement and Giving During Advent and Christmas: A Simple Strategy for Growth

Advent marks the beginning of the Catholic New Year—a season of renewal and opportunity. For parishes, this time offers a unique chance to deepen relationships, invite new members, and increase giving. But how can we make the most of this sacred season with just 15 seconds to capture someone's attention?

The Three Gifts of Advent

Advent offers three key opportunities:

1. Enhance Existing Relationships
2. Repair Frayed Relationships
3. Build New Relationships

Though these opportunities are available year-round, Advent and Christmas provide a unique moment to reconnect. We spend more time in our homes and churches, making it the perfect time to express gratitude, heal strained relationships, and invite newcomers into our communities.

Key Principles for Success

To make the most of these opportunities, focus on these four principles:

1. Express Gratitude People are 68% more likely to engage with a community if they’ve received a thank-you note. A simple gesture of appreciation can strengthen relationships and increase involvement.
2. Extend Invitations Invitations are a powerful tool. Even if only a few people accept, the majority will often say "yes." Imagine the growth in your community if just 5-10% of new visitors engaged during Advent.
3. Personalize Engagement Personal communication is critical. People are 15 times more likely to respond positively when they feel personally addressed. Using names and crafting tailored messages can create deeper connections.
4. Make It Easy We have only 15 seconds to make an impact. After that, more than 75% of people may lose interest. Provide easy, quick ways for people to engage or give to make the most of this brief opportunity.

The Impact of These Efforts

These simple actions can yield impressive results:

1. Time Commitment Dedicate just 1-2 hours—one hour for refining communications and another for tracking engagement. This minimal effort can significantly benefit your parish.
2. Expected Results For a parish with around 500 active members, these efforts can lead to 5-10 new members, a 5-10% increase in holiday giving, and an additional $20,000 to $40,000 in recurring donations.
3. Stronger Community These actions help build a more inviting, connected community, deepening participants’ faith and engagement during the Advent season.

Must-Do Actions for Success

There are just two critical actions to drive success:

1. Send Personalized SmartCommunications via Email Automate personalized emails with invitations to engage and donate. Send these at least 10 days before Christmas. This step can increase giving by up to 40%. (Time: 60-90 minutes)
2. Use Engagement Cards with SmartQR Codes Place engagement cards with SmartQR codes in pews to make it easy for people to donate, share prayer requests, or learn more. (Time: 10-20 minutes)

Bonus Strategies for Extra Impact

If you have extra time, consider these additional strategies:

1. Send a Post-Christmas Thank-You Email Thank your community for their participation and gifts. This can be scheduled in advance. (Time: 15 minutes)
2. Send a Christmas Text or WhatsApp Message A quick holiday greeting can strengthen connections and appreciation. (Time: 15 minutes)
3. Invite Contact Information Sharing Ask visitors to share their email addresses before the liturgy to stay connected. (Time: 2 minutes)
4. Encourage Grace Before Meals Remind families to pray before meals during the Feast of the Holy Family to strengthen faith. (Time: 15 minutes)
5. Prepare for Lent & Easter Use personalized emails and engagement cards to continue the invitation into the new year.

Conclusion: Simple Actions, Big Impact

Advent and Christmas are unique opportunities to enhance, repair, and build relationships within your parish. By dedicating just a few hours and using simple tools like personalized emails and engagement cards, your parish can experience significant growth, engagement, and giving during this sacred season. Take action now to make the most of this special time of renewal and grace.

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