How far ahead do you plan for Easter & Christmas services? How far ahead do you normally plan services? If the “normal” time is different, why?

Ok, now that the questions are out there, you know why you are here, so let me set them up better.

Over the past couple of months, thanks in large to Twitter (@tpaulding), I have been in communication with a large number of media/producer/tech people as well as pastors & worship leaders. At times I have become discouraged as I hear people share, as much as two months out, that they are finalizing Easter plans. We work on being ahead at SSCC, two weeks out is the normal deadline for any media project but with some sermon series we are only a few days ahead. We try to be 4-6 weeks ahead on sermon topics and base content but it takes effort. We are working to push these things closer to 8-10 weeks ahead. This gets frustrating to me mostly because rush, short deadlines and last minute planning all very negativly effect what we have the ability to produce and even worse it negatively effects creativity. I can run sound on short notice but don’t expect solid graphics or video projects.

So, at first, I got frustrated at our being “comparatively behind.” I realize we can’t all do things the same way for a lot of reasons, but it still makes me think. I also wonder if it is “wrong” of the church to put more effort on 1-2 services a year. Some churches may have the philosophy and means to always be months ahead. Honestly, I crave that.

But I currently (but not always) am bothered by putting markedly more effort into one to two services a year and then not “trying as hard” for the other 50 or so. When I set up our planning calendar for this year I definitely noted Easter, Christmas and about 6 other “high attendance” weekends for us. I think it is super-important to be ready for what is coming and aware of reasons that might bring people to your church on any given Sunday. I really just wish the Church “put that much effort” into every week.

So again, how far ahead do you plan?

Do you plan for Easter services more in advance than others?

Do you have any planning resources you use?

Share your thoughts, tell your friends… just don’t look back to my last post unless you have a time machine.

We are getting ready to start a 4 week series in church on God’s love called “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” We were trying today to think of some nice popular and fast love songs to play as walk-in and/or walk-out songs in the services. You got any suggestions? We were struggling. We ruled out the title song because of subject matter IN the song. I suggested “Wicked Game” by Chris Issack, but for obvious reasons that one got axed, along side of “I Wanna Sex You Up” by Color Me Bad when Chris suggested it. A few Beatles tunes came up, but seriously, what else?

Thanks in advance for your service.

-Travis