Post-Easter for Churches: 5 Tips to Help You Figure Out What to Do Next

Easter is a glorious time. It’s one of two seasons of the year your church can expect an influx of first-time guests and visitors to hear the proclamation of the gospel.

Easter is also an excellent time to reconnect with your family and enjoy many traditional activities. But Easter is also a challenging season for many churches.

The time and emotional energy it takes to prepare for your Easter services, reaching out to your community, and recruiting additional volunteers to help is exhausting for pastors, church staff, and volunteers. Justin Dean, co-founder of That Church Conference and Sunday University, said, “[Many pastors] won’t likely tell you this, but today at some point they will wonder if all the time, efforts and sacrifice that ministry requires are worth it.”

Having served in vocational ministry in the past, I know quite well that this is the case. But here’s the reality: The next few weeks after Easter are essential to continuing the momentum you and your church experienced.

Now that the dust has settled after Easter, it’s time to reflect on the previous few months, and, dare I say, set your gaze on post-Easter activities.

To help you wipe the sleep away from your eyes, and to see clearly after the dizziness of activity, here five tips to help you figure out what to do after Easter.

#1. Review your church’s Easter services

With your Easter services fresh on your mind, set aside time with your staff and volunteer leaders to talk about everything, including:

• Did people in attendance hear the gospel of Jesus Christ?
• How well did your church reach out to your community?
• Did you experience an influx of first-time guests and visitors? Did you capture their information?
• How well did the service flow?
• What would you do differently next year?

As you and your team talk about your Easter services, don’t forget to follow up with your first-time guests. If you don’t have a follow-up plan in place, there’s still time you can set aside to write letters, make phone calls, or send an email. Make sure you thank your guests for visiting your church, invite them to revisit you, and ask if there’s anything you can do to help or pray for.

#2. Update your website, social media, and facilities

Did you add an Easter graphic as your Facebook cover photo? Do you have a promotion for Easter on your website? Is your church facility or space covered with Easter material?

Well, now that Easter’s over, it’s time to tidy up your physical and online space.

Following Easter, be sure to update your church’s website, social media accounts, and your facilities or rented space.

#3. Take a break

Post-Easter is an excellent opportunity to schedule time off.

If you're a pastor, prepare to get away for several days or more. Use this time to reconnect with the Lord and with your family.

Related: 7 Ways Pastors Can Take a Vacation on a Budget

For most churches, preparing for Easter requires a significant investment of time from volunteers. I know you can’t close your doors next week. But explore ways you can give volunteers a break and especially a huge pat on the back. Make sure your volunteers know that you appreciate the time they’ve devoted to your church.

#4. Get ready for the summer

Getting ready for summer is probably the last thing you want to hear after Easter. If you haven’t prepared for the summer, then consider thinking through your plans, such as:

• What sermons will you preach?
• Will you teach a sermon series?
• Will your church run a Vacation Bible Study (VBS)?
• Do you have local, regional, or International mission trips to prepare for?
• Will your church take a break from Sunday schools or small groups?

Every church is different in the activities you need to prepare for this summer. Take the time to start thinking through the big picture of what your church will do or not do.

Related: 3 Tips to Avoid a Summer Giving Slump

If you're the pastor of a small church, and you don’t have a big staff to lean to for these preparations, consider finding a volunteer who can help you make plans, recruit additional volunteers, and make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

#5. Celebrate Easter every week

Jesus is alive!

We have the opportunity to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every single day of the week. Aim to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in your day-to-day life and proclaim his life, death, burial, and resurrection every Sunday. For the gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… “ (Rom. 1:16).

What is one thing you do post-Easter? Share your plans in the comments below!