blog
No matter how many church visitors you’re expecting on Easter, you’ll need to have a plan ready. Studies show organizations that create a plan are twice as likely to succeed in their efforts. But, the quality of your plan is going to be the key factor in your success. While we each have our own approach to planning, there a few practices that can refine our efforts, help us stay organized, and save precious time. By applying the 5 best practices below into your church’s strategy, you’ll have the tools for a successful Easter service (and a little less stress!)
1. Select a planning committee
Even if you’re recruiting volunteers later in the process, get started by selecting a planning committee. Whether you have two people or fifteen helping with the Easter service, structure a schedule of when you’ll meet and what you’ll discuss at those meetings. Need help recruiting volunteers? Make sure to check out our post Encourage Easter Volunteers by Following These 5 Tips.
2. Create an actionable plan
Once you’ve selected your planning committee, it’s time to create an actionable plan. You can plan this in advance (or at least most of it) and then present it to the group, or you can have them help you create it from scratch. Either way, have an open discussion and thoughtfully incorporate suggestions and feedback that will make your Easter service run more smoothly.
When creating an actionable plan, here are a few boxes that need to be checked off your list:
• Create a budget
• Spend time on logistics such as parking and seating
• Decide how you’ll get the word out
• Recruit volunteers
• Set timelines for the weeks leading up to Easter
• Choose tithing options for churchgoers such as giving kiosks and text giving
• Write out a schedule for Easter Sunday that includes everything from setting up to breaking down
Don’t feel like this plan is set in stone and adjustments are out of the question. Your actionable plan should continue to evolve as you identify hurdles, problem-solve, and apply solutions.
3. Articulate clearly what the next steps are
One of the most common pitfalls people experience when planning events like Easter service is communication. After each meeting, your planning committee should have a clear understanding of what their next steps are, when the deadline is, and how they can begin getting their part done.
Organize a chart listing jobs and the people assigned to them. Make sure to go into detail with each person about their role. You can also have each person discuss their specific tasks with the group so everyone understands how their role fits into the plan.
4. Be prepared for an increase in giving
When church attendance grows on Easter Sunday, be prepared for an increase in giving as well. Online giving increased 18.1% for faith-based organizations last December alone. And the increase in online giving makes sense because fewer people are carrying cash and check.
Some of the most effective tools are giving kiosks because they serve multiple purposes. People can contribute via giving kiosks as well as fill out a contact form – making it easier to capture contact information. If you run numerous generosity campaigns, you can effortlessly manage and customize them using this feature. Giving kiosks also allow volunteers to sign up and sign in. Place these at sign-in stations, visitor’s centers, event booths, and areas they can easily be accessed.
A mobile giving app and text giving are other helpful features that can be used to tithe on Easter. And let’s face it – most churchgoers are going to have their phone handy on Sunday! When choosing giving options for your actionable plan, make sure you explore all the different online features available to ensure there is something for every generation.
5. Think like a newcomer
Envision how the day will flow to help identify any trouble spots. Simply take a moment to think like a newcomer to your church. Walk through the different activities that you’ve planned and notice how you see everything coming together. Imagine different weather scenarios, what would happen if you were short a volunteer, and how you’ll handle the situation if more visitors show up than anticipated.
You can also think about when you’ve gone somewhere for the first time to get an idea about what it’s like to be in a new place. Notice what it’s like to park there, how easy it is to find information, locate the bathrooms, how you’re greeted, and everything in between. Pay attention to the little things that made your visit more enjoyable or challenging and make a note of this. First-hand experiences like this help fine-tune your Easter celebration for everyone involved!
Take advantage of these best practices for a successful Easter service and more helpful resources from easyTithe! For access to online giving features, contact us today at 1-888-778-4843 or reach out by emailing sales@easytithe.com.
