Christmas Bits

Jason Steele from FBC Gladewater in Gladewater, Texas brings us this rustic design for their Christmas stage.

They used barn wood, artificial Christmas trees (18,) battery operated candles of various heights, burlap to cover the bases, boxes used to put the trees on different levels, and 4 LED Par cans for lighting accent on the words. They mounted the 16″ letters on black craft board and hung them on the barn wood panels.

Planning a Rustic Christmas Church Stage

The combination of barn wood, evergreen trees, and candlelight gives this design a clear visual hierarchy: textured panels establish the backdrop, trees create depth, and the lettering provides a readable focal point. The following suggestions are adaptations for teams planning a similar look, rather than additional construction details supplied by FBC Gladewater.

Begin with a measured floor plan. Mark the worship team, drum enclosure, microphone stands, screens, and the paths people use to enter and leave the platform. Sketch the wood panels first, then arrange trees in small groups instead of distributing them evenly across the entire stage. Varying the heights helps each silhouette remain visible. Check the arrangement from the back row and side seats before committing to a layout; a tree that looks perfectly placed from the center aisle can hide a musician from another angle.

The original design uses 18 artificial trees, but a smaller room can borrow the same layered approach with fewer pieces. Inventory available trees and sort them by height and fullness. Try one complete grouping before buying anything new. If you raise a tree, use a stable support appropriate for its weight and footprint, not a loose stack of boxes. Burlap can conceal bases and unify mismatched containers, but it should not hide unstable supports or trail into walking paths.

For the barn wood elements, inspect reclaimed boards for protruding nails, splinters, and loose sections before assembling panels. Plan how each freestanding panel will resist tipping, and have the installation checked by someone qualified for the structure and venue. Keep lettering attachments secure and accessible for inspection. Black backing can help separate pale letters from busy wood grain, but test a sample at the intended viewing distance before cutting the full phrase.

Light the words separately from the surrounding trees whenever possible. Start with a restrained background level, then bring up the lettering accents until the message reads clearly without overpowering faces. Take a camera test with a person standing at the speaking position: the backdrop may look balanced in the room but distract on a close shot. Battery-operated candles add small points of warmth without needing an open flame. Group their controls and battery checks into the service setup routine so scattered dim candles do not weaken the finished look.

Pro Tips for a Barn Wood Christmas Set

Build one test grouping: Assemble a panel, two or three trees, and a candle cluster before repeating the arrangement. This reveals spacing problems while changes are still easy.

Keep the message readable: View the lettering under the actual service lighting from the farthest seats. Move branches away from letter shapes rather than simply increasing brightness.

Protect access routes: Keep fabric, tree branches, and cables clear of platform steps and exits. Follow your venue’s requirements for decorative materials and fixture clearances.

Plan the reset: Label panels, photograph tree positions, and store candles by group. A simple setup map makes volunteer handoffs and later reuse much easier.

Related Designs

• String Trees and White Branches – Compare yarn tree silhouettes, painted branches, and burlap-covered bases.
• Winter Wonderland – Explore layered foam-board trees and battery-lit ornaments.
• Sky Full of Stars – See a Christmas backdrop built around star curtains and room-wide projection.
• Big Candles – Consider oversized illuminated faux candles as an alternative focal element.
• String Trees Back Story – Compare several tree-building approaches, including framed evergreen forms.

Related: Patched – Explore another rustic approach using corrugated tin, bamboo, and mixed wood textures.

Related: Shining Shimmering Splendid – Compare LED net lights softened by sheer fabric, illuminated stars, and layered trees for a starlit winter church stage.

Related: Clever Christmas Wreath Lamps – Explore reclaimed wood, Advent candles, and rustic lamp details for a coordinated Christmas church stage.

Related: Christmas in La La Land – See another coordinated Christmas installation that extends its visual theme from the lobby into the sanctuary.