A Reminder for Those Who Minister in Church

Every December, churches across Australia and around the world hum with activity. Rosters fill, rehearsals multiply, printers overheat, and someone is always hunting for the missing shepherd costume. It’s beautiful… and exhausting. And in the middle of it all, it’s easy for those who minister—paid or volunteer—to forget what Christmas actually means.

So here’s a gentle reminder for all of us who serve.

Christmas is God With Us, Not Us Doing More

The heart of Christmas isn’t our programs, our planning, or our perfectly executed services. It’s the staggering truth that God came close. Emmanuel. God with us.

He didn’t wait for humanity to get its act together. He stepped into our mess—our noise, our chaos, our unfinished to‑do lists. If your ministry feels a bit messy right now, you’re in good company. The first Christmas wasn’t polished either.

Christmas Is Received, Not Performed

Ministry can subtly shift our posture. We start thinking Christmas depends on us—our creativity, our energy, our ability to pull everything together. But Christmas isn’t a performance we deliver. It’s a gift we receive.

Before you lead others in worship, pause long enough to worship Him yourself. Before you tell the story, let the story tell you again. Before you serve, let yourself be served by the One who came not to be served but to serve.

Christmas Is Light for the Weary

Many who walk through your church doors this season are carrying grief, loneliness, or fear. But so are many who stand on the platform, run the tech desk, or wrangle the kids’ ministry.

If you’re tired, you’re not failing. You’re human.

The good news is that Jesus didn’t come for the strong and sorted. He came for the weary, the burdened, the ones who need rest. That includes you.

Christmas Is a Season of Grace, Not Guilt

Not every idea will be finished. Not every volunteer will be available. Not every moment will go to plan. And that’s okay.

Grace came wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger. Grace still comes to us now—quietly, gently, without pressure. Let grace be the atmosphere you breathe and the atmosphere you create for others.

Christmas Is a Shepherd, Not a Schedule

We often treat December like a sprint. But Jesus is a Shepherd, not a taskmaster. He leads, He doesn’t drive. He guides, He doesn’t push. He restores, He doesn’t drain.

If your soul feels stretched thin, let Him shepherd you. Sit with Him. Slow down long enough to hear His voice again.

Christmas Is Wonder

Somewhere between the carols, the candles, the kids’ nativity, and the last‑minute photocopying, don’t lose the wonder. The God who flung stars into space became a baby small enough to hold.

Let that truth stop you in your tracks. Let it soften you. Let it fill you with joy again.

A Final Word for Those Who Serve

Your ministry matters. Your faithfulness matters. Your unseen sacrifices matter. But Christmas does not rest on your shoulders. It rests on His.

So breathe. Receive. Rejoice.
And may the wonder of Emmanuel—God with us—renew your heart as you help others encounter Him.

Have a blessed and Merry Christmas from Cooee Kid’s Ministry!