Update
A Gentle Guide to Inclusive Holiday Worship
The holidays are beautiful, meaningful, and full, and in the fullness, it’s easy to miss the unique experiences of people and families impacted by disability. Inclusion isn’t a list of tasks to complete. It’s a posture, a way of preparing our hearts and our spaces so everyone can worship Christ with dignity and ease.
This guide offers thoughtful prompts, practical ideas, and gentle reminders for creating holiday worship environments that embody belonging. Use it as a companion…something to reflect on as you plan, not something to “finish.”
Start With Awareness & Communication
During the holidays, information moves quickly and families carry a lot. Consider how you can:
- Communicate clearly about what to expect — service times, environments, transitions, special elements
- Offer simple previews or visual schedules to help reduce anxiety
- Make accessibility information easy to find and easy to understand
- Invite families to reach out if they have needs — and respond with warmth and openness
Guiding Question: Have we communicated in a way that helps every person feel prepared, welcomed, and seen?
Create Environments That Support Diverse Sensory Needs
Holiday worship often brings extra lights, sound, movement, and crowds. You might:
- Provide a quiet space or sensory-friendly worship space
- Offer items like noise-reducing headphones, fidgets, or soft seating
- Be mindful of sudden loud moments during services
- Prepare families for transitions or high-sensory elements
Guiding Question: How might someone who processes sensory input differently experience this moment?
Revisit Physical Accessibility With Fresh Eyes
In the holiday rush, simple barriers can go unnoticed. Think about:
- Whether entrances, aisles, and seating are truly accessible
- Offering a variety of seating options that honor comfort and mobility
- Making signage clear and intuitive
- Add additional accessible parking spots in anticipation of new families and aging adults
Guiding Question: If I were navigating this space with a mobility aid or chronic pain, what would my experience be?
Equip Volunteers With Grace-Centered Confidence
Your teams set the tone for belonging. Consider:
- Share our WITH Ministries free resources located at www.withministries.org
- Coaching greeters and ushers to offer support without assumptions
- Provide sensory support and guides in each classroom
- Naming a point person for families who need assistance
Guiding Question: Are we inviting people into worship with both hospitality and humility?
Invite Participation in Multiple Ways
People engage in worship differently. Some ideas:
- Provide worship set list ahead of time
- Use multi-sensory worship elements intentionally and thoughtfully
- Offer both quiet moments and opportunities for movement
- Make it clear that “wiggles and noises” are welcome
Guiding Question: How can we honor different ways of experiencing and expressing worship?
Support Families With Compassion
The holidays can feel heavy for caregivers. You might:
- Create a simple, smooth check-in process
- Send a text or make a call to remind families they are wanted this season
- Offer a buddy or support volunteer when available
- Follow up to ask what helped — or what could help next time
Guiding Question: How can we lighten the load for families so they can worship, too?
Reflect & Grow After the Season
Inclusion grows through reflection. After services, take time to:
- Notice what supported belonging — and where barriers remained
- Celebrate the families who worshipped with you
- Invite stories and feedback from volunteers and leaders
- Identify one or two practices to strengthen for the future
Guiding Question: How is God inviting our church to deepen belonging all year long?
Belonging Isn’t a Box to Check.
It’s a Way of Being the Church.
This season, may your worship be marked by thoughtfulness, joy, and the kind of welcome that reflects the heart of Christ, a welcome that honors every person, every body, and every story.
