What’s Worth Doing Before Easter?
by Ashley Graham-Wilcox
This stretch before Easter can feel like Church Olympics. Everyone’s sprinting toward a hundred goals: Beautiful liturgies, full pews, polished bulletins, cross-platform social media campaigns, a reel that goes instantly viral…
But if you're like most church communicators or administrators, you're probably short on time, energy, and resources—and maybe your kid’s on spring break this week, too. So, as we barrel into April, let’s check-in:
What’s actually worth doing before Easter? Below are a few practices that can help bring a little clarity, sanity, and intention into this holy-but-hectic season.
1. Ask the “3-Fold Filter”
Before saying “yes” to that new idea, try running it through these three questions:
Will this help people feel more welcomed or connected?
Will this support your team or volunteers in doing their jobs better?
Is it sustainable—or will it wipe you out for the rest of the season?
If something checks 2 out of 3 boxes, great. If it only checks one, ask yourself whether it really needs to happen this year. You can always try it next time.
2. Prioritize First-Time Visitors
You don’t need to reinvent your welcome strategy—just tighten the basics:
Is your website’s homepage clear and up to date?
Are service times obvious from your social media, phone system, and Google listing?
Do you have a simple way for new folks to connect (paper or digital welcome card, a QR code, or an actual human near the donuts)?
Do your volunteers know where the bathrooms are? (You’d be surprised…)
Getting these few things in place can create a more grounded and less stressful experience—for visitors and for you.
3. Plan Your Follow-Up Now, Not Later
We’ve all been there: You survive Easter Sunday, it’s time for a deep breath, then your staff all take (well-earned) back-to-back time off, and suddenly it’s the Fifth Sunday of Easter and everyone’s wondering if anyone ever followed up with that nice family from the Vigil service?
The (other) good news? You can prep now.
Draft a follow-up email that thanks visitors and invites them to one small, specific next step.
Set a calendar reminder to post 2–3 Easter recap photos or reflections a few days after Easter.
Assign someone (or block your own time) to send those messages before you even start the egg hunt.
This takes 20 minutes now and saves 2 hours of chaos later.
Let Go of the Rest
You do not need:
Hour-by-hour countdown graphics for Holy Week
Daily Instagram devotionals (unless you already made them)
A 16-page worship guide with custom fonts
Those things can be beautiful and impactful, but only if they don’t burn you out or compromise the quality of the things you’ve already committed to.
☕ Final Word
There’s no such thing as a perfect Holy Week. Because the goal isn’t flawless production: It’s meaningful connection. So if you’re looking for permission to scale back, here it is: Focus on what will truly help your congregation experience something real and grounding this Easter.
Upcoming Support from Caffeinated Church
📅 April 3: Making Easter Connections Last – A workshop on turning seasonal visitors into long-term community.
📅 April 8: Working with Leadership – Perfectly timed for the energy that comes in the Easter season.
