Ready to host a Christmas party that doesn’t consist of just sitting around?

Here are some Christ-focused activities to make your Christmas party the best you’ve ever had.

Christmas can stress me out. Or at least part of it does. Well, maybe two parts.

The decorations and the gifts. 

Seriously.

Decorate the tree. Decorate the fireplace. Decorate the front door. Decorate the yard. Hang lights.

Wait.

What do I do with the stuff that’s already out?

You know, the stuff that’s been out all year long—the vases, the topiary, the tablecloth, the centerpiece, the trays, the candles. The things that are the perfect pieces for the perfect spots.   

Stuff it in cabinets? Stick it under the bed? Shove it in a closet? Store it in the bin the Christmas stuff is coming out of? Yes! That’s it. That’s what I’ll do.  

Yep, this is me every Christmas.

Complete melt down because I want to be Christmasy and festive, but I like my stuff the way it is! And I don’t want to spend a small fortune on bows and skirts and runners and bulbs and bells and…(I’m panicking now as I think about it. True story. Ask my mom).

I know. Ridiculous. 

Please say I’m not alone.

Please tell me you are elated right now to know that you’re not the only one who completely panics and perspires and breathes heavily when it comes to Christmas decorating!

Maybe? 

And that’s just the one part. 

Now it’s the presents. What do I get for these people? How much do I spend? One gift or two? An outing or an item? Shop online or visit local retail stores?

Okay, my heart is racing, and I’m starting to sweat.

See, I’m not very holly jolly at ringing in the holiday season!

But…

I am happy to report that I’ve discovered some healthy, happy, fun-filled ways to ignite my holiday spirit and to celebrate the reason for the season—the birth of Jesus Christ and fellowship with those I love the most. 

Thankfully, the good Lord saw how heavy and stressed my poor heart was when it came to Christmas. So grateful that over the last few yeas he has restored my joy for the holiday season.

It was something I honestly prayed for. I wanted right perspective of the season, His perspective. 

What He revealed to me was that celebrating the holidays meant investing in people—spending time with them, loving on them, sharing Jesus with them. 

So that’s what I’m sharing with you—the gift of presence, being present with those you love, being present in the moment. 

These ideas are practical and can be enjoyed with family, friends, co-workers, support groups, neighbors, and church ministries.

These are also ideal for including the non-believers in your life.

No hype, no pressure, no expectation.

Just folks engaged in healthy, fun celebrations that honor and acknowledge the God who created us and the Jesus who saved us.   

Best Christmas Party Ideas for Christian Women:

Painting Ornaments

Last Christmas, I had the pleasure of leading a home painting party. It was part of our women’s ministry “Share Your Space Initiative,” and the goal was to connect women in our community through paint and holiday cheer.   

About 8 women opened up their homes on various days and times and invited women from their neighborhood, social circle, work place, or family to paint an ornament.

Each host chose a simple scene or image for her group to recreate on a small canvas.  Partnered with the image was a scripture reading that captured the essence of the scene.

Before painting, we read the Scripture aloud and discussed its significance.

Music playing softly in the background made for a jolly evening.

I would definitely do this again!

Painting ornaments is fun and fairly easy to pull off. Many of the women discovered it was a great stress reliever, an escape into an activity of calm and peace--something your guests might crave during the chaos of the season.

Supplies For A Paint Party:

• Sample scenes or images for your guests to choose from

• Paint and paint brushes

• Pencils or skinny sharpies to sketch the artwork

• Paper plates for the paint pallet

• Old table cloth or sheet to protect the work space

• Paper towels

• Short paper cups with water to clean brushes

• Pack of 2x2 canvas

• Ribbon, small hook to hang ornament

• Scripture reading

BONUS:

The best part about this party is that you’ll remember about how much fun you had each year you hang the ornament on your tree!

Decorating Cookies

I have the fondest memories of my Aunt Brenda’s Christmas cookies.

Every year there was a platter of holiday-shaped sugar cookies topped with red and green icing or gold and silver candy sprinkles.

They were beautiful! And delicious. 

How fun it would be to invite the gang over to decorate cookies, listen to worship music, and lead them in life-giving conversation.

Tips For Hosting A Cookie Party:

Bake sugar cookies in advance

Invite your guests to bring plain baked sugar cookies

Use your time together decorating the cookies

Swap finished cookies as gifts

Consider gifting the cookies to your neighbors

Supplies You’ll Need For A Cookie Party::

• Icing

• Food coloring

• Candy

• Lots of small disposable bowls for icing/frosting

• Old sheet or towel to cover the work space

• Aprons

• Small plastic bags

• Twist ties or tie wraps

• Stickers or labels for bagged cookies

• Piping bag and piping tips

• Small sharp knife to sketch images on cookies

• Candy sprinkles

This website seems pretty helpful and can relieve any stress you or your guests may have about where to start (or about messing up those cookies😊).

Making Cards

“Hallmark—when you care enough to send the very best.”

What if your very best is a homemade card? What if it’s personalized with your handwriting? Smeared with glitter? Bedazzled with jewels?

What if it’s trimmed in lace or popped open with pipe cleaners?

The possibilities are endless! 

Host a card making party and watch your friends’ creative juices flow. Grab the glue, play some music, and let the artist inside shine!

You can provide the card supplies or invite your guests to bring what they like.

Supplies You’ll Need For A Card-Making Party:

• Colored paper, cardstock, construction paper, pack of canvas paper

• Markers, crayons, colored pencils, paint, watercolors, pastels

• Stencils, stamps

• Stickers

• Glitter

• Glue 

• Pipe cleaners

• Ribbon, yarn, lace, fabric pieces

• Scrapbook scissors

Helpful Tips:

Include a scripture for each card

Use your cards as gifts this year

Make as many as you can

Send your cards to a local nursing home, women’s shelter, correctional facility, police station, fire department, or children’s medical center

There is something special about a homemade card.

It can sit on a nightstand or rest in a drawer, but when it’s discovered, its words of encouragement shout just as joyfully as they did when first received.  

Reading Stories

Who says story time can’t be for adults?

I can’t think of a more intimate, sweet way to enjoy time with others than listening to a good story and sharing what was loved about it.

There are tons of Christmas stories that not only entertain but also focus our thoughts on things that are lovely and pure and good and holy and righteous.

And these are the things we want stored up in our hearts for the holiday season.

Readings to consider include:

Luke chapter 2

The Advent Jesse Tree by Dean Lambert Smith

Christmas Adam by Amber Noblit

The True Night Before Christmas by Timothy Penland

Partner your reading time with:

• Coffee

• Hot cocoa

• Fresh biscuits

• Herbal holiday tea

• Donuts or pastries

• Fruit and cheese tray

• Fresh vegetables and variety garden dips

Any time is a good time for guests and a book. These suggestions may help you determine the best time for your story gathering.

Monday morning from 10:00-12:00 (for those of you off on Mondays)

Wednesday night from 7:00-8:30 (mid-week refresher with friends)

Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 (great for unwinding from a long work week)

Saturday afternoon from 3:00-5:00 (perfect weekend social)

The good thing about books is they can go anywhere—your living room, patio, pool house, seaside deck, or backyard picnic table.

Host your holiday reading wherever you have seats for friends!

Let’s pinky promise to not let holiday decorating and gift-giving overwhelm us this year.

Let’s give the gift of presence--be present with those we love, be present in the moment. 

Here’s to a very merry Christmas season!