Reuse and Rejoice: How to Repurpose Christmas Content for the January Church Newsletter 

December is a whirlwind at church, with Christmas worship services, programs, parties, and outreach events. As a result, church staff and volunteers get stretched pretty thin. If you produce a church newsletter or email newsletter, you also know that December issues are filled with festive photos, devotions, and event announcements. But as the new year approaches, you might panic about how to pull together a January newsletter in time. 

The good news: Plenty of great material is already on hand! With a few tweaks, you can repurpose some December content and give the January issue a fresh look without starting from scratch. Plus, the church community will love seeing highlights from the holiday season and hearing previews of the coming year. 

9 Ways to Repurpose Christmas Content for a January Newsletter

For easy January newsletter ideas, consider these editorial and design tips: 

1. Reflect on the season without repetition. 

In the January newsletter issue, don’t just rehash holiday cheer. Instead, share snippets from the Christmas season and reflect on the impact. That helps readers carry the message of Christ’s birth to New Year’s Day and beyond.  

Because people seek renewal after New Year’s Eve, readers expect a reflective yet forward-looking tone. To accomplish this, you can feature a Christmas in Review section. Gather a few photos from holiday worship services and events, then add descriptive captions. Frame the section as a celebration of how the church community lived out its faith during Advent.

Also include a devotional for the New Year. You can adapt the pastor’s Christmas message, focusing on how the gift of Jesus keeps giving beyond December 25. 

2. Use behind-the-scenes Christmas content. 

Not everything from December makes it into the Christmas newsletter. As the editor, you likely have extra photos and quotes that can shine in January. These additions make the January newsletter content feel personal by showing the church family—and God—at work. 

To repurpose leftover content, assemble a holiday photo collage. Print candid shots of people decorating, setting up holy communion, rehearsing, singing, and serving. Ask church leadership to share how they saw God moving during the Christmas season.  

Another idea: Feature a throwback photo of a past Christmas celebration at your church. People will enjoy reminiscing about God’s blessings through the years. 

3. Turn Christmas devotionals into a new year series. 

If your Christmas newsletters contained seasonal devotions, extend those into a series for January. For Advent devotions about hope, peace, joy, and love, use January to dig deeper into each theme. A “Faith in the New Year” column can revisit those concepts, helping readers apply them to daily life. 

Stretching your content provides ongoing spiritual encouragement for readers. It’s one of the most effective January newsletter ideas for staying connected and serving the congregation. 

4. Repurpose visual elements. 

December church communication designs sparkle with stars, nativity art, and red-and-green color schemes. For January newsletter ideas, save time—and stay consistent—by swapping those elements. Replace Christmas colors with soft winter hues like navy, silver, and white. Instead of ornaments and holly, feature snowflakes and snowmen. In the newsletter or email template, update “Merry Christmas” banners to “Welcome 2026” or “A New Year of Faith.” 

Even subtle changes signal that the newsletter is turning the page to a new season. If you use a newsletter template from ChurchArt Pro for layouts, duplicate the December file and update the colors, text, and photos. This time-saver makes church newsletters look fresh yet consistent. 

5. Spotlight volunteers. 

Because the holiday season is super busy for church staff and volunteers, a January issue is the perfect place to thank them and highlight their efforts. Think of musicians, ushers, the altar guild, Sunday school teachers, and more. Add a Volunteer Spotlight section with photos and short bios of people who went above and beyond. This celebrates their contributions and inspires others to get involved.  

Pro Tip: Also share ways to sign up! 

Include a thank-you note from a church leader or ministry staff member, expressing gratitude for everyone who pitched in. Recognition reminds congregants that every act of service builds up the body of Jesus Christ. 

6. Turn event coverage into promotions for the year ahead. 

The December newsletter advertised special events, from Christmas Eve worship to holiday craft fairs. These recaps are still valuable in January! Use them to build excitement for what’s coming next. Repurposing event coverage shows that the church isn’t slowing down after the holidays. Instead, it’s moving forward in faith, mission, and ministry.  

For example, end a Christmas outreach recap by inviting readers to participate in the next event, such as a winter food drive. After sharing photos of the Christmas choir or children’s program, briefly explain how readers can get involved in Easter worship plans. 

7. Preview the year ahead. 

Church newsletter ideas for January help readers look ahead to what’s next. Include a “Save the Dates” section for each upcoming event, such as new Bible studies or small groups, church retreats, youth gatherings, service projects, annual meetings, and more. 

Include a message from the pastor about the church’s goals and vision for 2026. Include a prayer request or two about the new year, plus a call to action. Linking the joy of Christmas with the promise of the future builds anticipation and faith. 

8. Share testimonies and transformations. 

Christmas changes hearts, so invite people to share how God worked in their lives. You might feature a family who grew closer together by attending December worship and fellowship, or a volunteer who felt called to serve more often. Maybe a service was especially moving for someone, or they saw God at work through the children’s ministry program. Personal stories keep Christmas alive. 

9. Encourage reflection and renewal. 

Finally, make space in the January newsletter for personal reflection. In a section titled “New Year, Same Savior” or “Faith Goals for the New Year,” encourage readers to make some spiritual resolutions. They might decide to attend worship more regularly, join a small group, form a new ministry, or deepen their prayer life. Pair these ideas with a brief Scripture passage, such as Isaiah 43:18-19 or Philippians 3:13-14, to remind readers that God is doing a new thing in and through them. 

Wrap Up the Holidays & Move Forward in Faith

Your monthly or weekly newsletter in January doesn’t have to feel like a challenge. Before starting from scratch, review your December issue and content folder. You might find a good portion of what you need for a January newsletter.  

Readers will enjoy revisiting December memories and will be inspired to participate more fully in the new year. Along the way, you’ll connect the congregation and encourage people for a brand-new year of faithfulness.