All that is good, but it's important that we not forget the 365 days that we're just now wrapping up. A year is a significant period of time, and if you have a team of people that you serve with in ministry, it's important that you not only set goals for the new year, but that you inventory all of the success of the previous year. Sometimes it is hard in December to remember back to all that has happened, but if you take time to remember, you will realize that it is quite a long list. As people look to move on, remind them of what God has done. Celebrate the success of your ministry and praise God for how He has worked.

Can't quite remember all of those successes? Get out a calendar and think back month by month - what was your team working on on January, February, in March...? Also, you could try asking the team - allow them to contribute to what they think was the year's greatest success. 

Energize your team with a walk down memory lane. Help them realize that God has been active over the past year and they played a part in that! 

This same practice is important for you personally. The end of the year is one of many good times to reflect on all that God has done in and through your life. I'm a visual learner, so if you're like me you'll write down a list of all that God has blessed you with, allowed you to participate in, and changed in your life in 2011. Take time to reflect on this list, recognizing Him as Lord and provider. You'll be amazed at all that has happened in these last 12 months, and these realizations will be good fodder for action items in the new year - what you want to continue to change, push forward on, and work towards in 2012. 

Merry Christmas!

All that is good, but it's important that we not forget the 365 days that we're just now wrapping up. A year is a significant period of time, and if you have a team of people that you serve with in ministry, it's important that you not only set goals for the new year, but that you inventory all of the success of the previous year. Sometimes it is hard in December to remember back to all that has happened, but if you take time to remember, you will realize that it is quite a long list. As people look to move on, remind them of what God has done. Celebrate the success of your ministry and praise God for how He has worked.

Can't quite remember all of those successes? Get out a calendar and think back month by month - what was your team working on on January, February, in March...? Also, you could try asking the team - allow them to contribute to what they think was the year's greatest success. 

Energize your team with a walk down memory lane. Help them realize that God has been active over the past year and they played a part in that! 

This same practice is important for you personally. The end of the year is one of many good times to reflect on all that God has done in and through your life. I'm a visual learner, so if you're like me you'll write down a list of all that God has blessed you with, allowed you to participate in, and changed in your life in 2011. Take time to reflect on this list, recognizing Him as Lord and provider. You'll be amazed at all that has happened in these last 12 months, and these realizations will be good fodder for action items in the new year - what you want to continue to change, push forward on, and work towards in 2012. 

Merry Christmas!

For us engaged on a church team though, the picture is a bit different. We (hopefully) start to consider the Christmas season months before, because we recognize that Christmas is one of our biggest opportunities to reach the community. Only at Christmas are certain people, who usually reject the things of God and the church, willing and sometimes wanting to feel connected to the story of Christmas and open to checking it out. Christmas planning for the team I'm on began in May of this past year - yes, May. That's when we started listening to Christmas music. Our Christmas outreach included music from a live orchestra, a whole lot of video and graphic content, and a major stage setup including lighting rentals, projection, audio systems, etc. SO - the Christmas season looks just a bit different for us. In fact, Thanksgiving is more like a break or a calm before the storm than it is the start of anything.

Your church may or may not hold a seperate Christmas event, but Christmas Eve services are a huge draw in the community and they are a great opportunity for media to engage those people. I hope that you and your team are working on ways that you can bring incredible enhancement to these outreach events. 

What is your experience? - When does the Christmas season really begin for you?

What are you working on for Christmas?

Are you ready for it to be over?

For us engaged on a church team though, the picture is a bit different. We (hopefully) start to consider the Christmas season months before, because we recognize that Christmas is one of our biggest opportunities to reach the community. Only at Christmas are certain people, who usually reject the things of God and the church, willing and sometimes wanting to feel connected to the story of Christmas and open to checking it out. Christmas planning for the team I'm on began in May of this past year - yes, May. That's when we started listening to Christmas music. Our Christmas outreach included music from a live orchestra, a whole lot of video and graphic content, and a major stage setup including lighting rentals, projection, audio systems, etc. SO - the Christmas season looks just a bit different for us. In fact, Thanksgiving is more like a break or a calm before the storm than it is the start of anything.

Your church may or may not hold a seperate Christmas event, but Christmas Eve services are a huge draw in the community and they are a great opportunity for media to engage those people. I hope that you and your team are working on ways that you can bring incredible enhancement to these outreach events. 

What is your experience? - When does the Christmas season really begin for you?

What are you working on for Christmas?

Are you ready for it to be over?