With Easter around the corner, it’s time for the worship leader to get their service-planning hat on! From deciding which hymns and worship songs to choose and what Scripture to include, to collaborating with the pastor and other members of the church staff, there’s a lot of prep work that needs to be done before Easter Sunday. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Schedule your team way in advance.
You should make sure to confirm your praise team earlier than usual for Easter. You’ll probably want your best team members – that specific combination of techs, instrumentalists, and vocalists that always bring their A-game. Reach out to get a firm “yes” from those people even if the official schedule isn’t posted yet. Make sure you have the right people on board so they can really bring it!
Focus on the Resurrection!
It can be easy for churches to get so caught up in the symbolism of the cross during their Easter services that they actually forget to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. It’s important to remember that the cross is only part of the story – Jesus’ resurrection is what brings us true hope and salvation.
Teach new songs before Easter.
It’s important that your congregation is familiar with the songs they’ll be singing. Get those new songs going in the weeks leading up to Easter so that everybody can be confident singing them and really come together to celebrate.
Don’t be afraid to reuse the hits.
It’s always a great idea to recycle Easter songs from last year, especially if your congregation loved them. Why reinvent the musical wheel every year? Not only is it just good stewardship, but it also means that your church can enjoy hearing these songs and arrangements again. It’s been almost a year since your church last sang Easter hymns or heard Easter-themed special music, so chances are they won’t remember that you used this arrangement last Easter – they’ll just be grateful for the beautiful music!
Keep it simple.
For Easter, don’t overcomplicate things when it comes to your church’s worship service. Adding more vocalists or band members isn’t necessary – with every addition, make sure to ask yourself if it’s really worth it. Keep the focus on creating an impactful and meaningful service without overwhelming your congregation (or team) with too many elements.
As Easter approaches, it’s important to remember the importance of preparation. Scheduling your team early and teaching new songs before Easter can help ensure your worship service is meaningful and impactful. Additionally, don’t forget to actually celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and reuse some of the hits from last year! With careful planning, your team can create an enjoyable, heartfelt and stress-free Easter service.
