Fall planning for your church

Here’s a fall checklist to help you prepare for upcoming holidays like Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas. This list includes marketing, social media and community outreach reminders.

September/Early October: Planning Phase

1. Set Holiday Calendar

   • Schedule important dates: Thanksgiving, Advent Sundays, Christmas Eve/Day services.

   • Plan any special events: Thanksgiving meals, Advent candle lighting, Christmas pageants, etc.

2. Organize Volunteer Teams

   • Assign leaders for different activities: service projects, decorating, marketing, hospitality.

   • Schedule volunteer sign-ups for events like food drives or caroling.

3. Design Event Themes & Graphics

   • Create branding for each holiday event: colors, logos, and themes for Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas.

   • Coordinate with graphic designers for flyers, social media, and website banners.

4. Plan Outreach Initiatives

   • Contact local charities for Thanksgiving and Christmas service projects (e.g., food banks, coat drives). Begin promotion for these events within your congregation and through community partners.

Mid October: Marketing and Promotions

5. Thanksgiving Service & Outreach Prep

   • Plan and promote a Thanksgiving worship service.

   • Organize a community meal or food drive with details posted on the website and social media.

6. Social Media Content Calendar

   • Start scheduling holiday-themed posts across platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, etc.). Focus on gratitude, hope, and giving.

   • Share stories or testimonials of church service projects and how people can get involved.

7. Community Partnerships

   • Partner with local businesses or organizations to host community-wide Thanksgiving or Christmas events.

   • Coordinate advertising with community boards, local press, and neighborhood social media groups.

8. Begin Promoting Advent

   • Advertise Advent services (in-person and online).

   • Create an Advent devotional guide to share with members and online followers.

Early November: Thanksgiving Final Prep

9. Finalize Thanksgiving Details

   • Confirm volunteers for the meal, food drives, or service projects.

   • Send reminders to the congregation about Thanksgiving service and community events.

10. Thanksgiving Marketing Blitz

    • Push final promotions for the Thanksgiving service/event via email blasts, social media posts, and flyers.

    • Include reminders in church announcements and bulletins.

11. Post-Thanksgiving Gratitude Campaign

    • Encourage the congregation to share what they are thankful for on social media.

    • Share images from Thanksgiving events (with permission) and highlight impact stories.

Late November: Advent Launch

12. Decorate the Church

    • Set up Advent wreaths, Christmas lights, and decorations.

    • Post photos of the transformation on social media to build excitement.

13. Host an Advent Kickoff Event

    • Plan a community-wide or congregation-only event to mark the start of Advent.

    • Share Advent resources (daily devotionals, prayer guides) and invite people to Advent services.

14. Advent Sermon Series

    • Promote your Advent sermon series theme and scripture references.

    • Share teaser videos or posts on social media about what to expect.

15. Daily/Weekly Advent Content

    • Schedule weekly Advent reflections or prayers on social media.

    • Highlight one service project or giving opportunity each week of Advent (food drives, toy donations, etc.).

December: Christmas Prep and Promotions

16. Promote Christmas Eve/Day Services

    • Create event pages for Christmas Eve/Day services and invite the community.

    • Share details about children’s pageants, special music, or other unique aspects of the service.

17. Christmas Marketing Campaign

    • Ramp up social media posts, focusing on the message of hope, peace, and joy.

    • Send email invitations to congregation members and encourage them to share with friends.

18. Community Outreach

    • Organize caroling events, gift drives for underprivileged families, or visits to nursing homes.

    • Publicize these efforts locally and online to encourage participation.

19. Prepare Christmas Eve Programs

    • Finalize orders of service, program handouts, and multimedia needs.

    • Share a sneak peek of the service (e.g., choir rehearsal, behind-the-scenes video) on social media.

20. Follow-up & Thank You

    • After Christmas, send thank you notes to volunteers, donors, and community partners.

    • Share photos and testimonies from Advent and Christmas events online, highlighting the church’s impact.

This checklist will ensure a well-organized and impactful holiday season for your church community, both in-person and online.