Before Sunday: Setting the Stage
Preparation starts long before Sunday morning. Whether it’s organizing spaces or stocking essential supplies, these steps ensure your church is ready to welcome guests with excellence.
Parking Lot
Equip the Team: Ensure all supplies, such as safety vests, greeter signs, cones, and golf cart keys, are ready and available.
Prepare the Maps: Use a clean dry-erase map to assign team members to specific positions in the parking lot.
Charge Golf Carts: Fully charged carts are essential for assisting guests, especially in larger parking areas.
Atrium
Arrange Seating Areas: Clean and organize all furniture for a welcoming environment.
Set Seasonal Displays: Update any event or signup areas with the necessary materials.
Organize Supplies: Stock greeter signs, lanyards, and maps for easy access on Sunday.
Connect (Visitor Engagement Areas)
The New Here and New Life gift bags are critical for welcoming guests and engaging those making spiritual decisions. Learn more about preparing these in our new here process resource.
Assemble gift bags with care, ensuring they include relevant materials and resources.
Prepare second-visit cards with a stamp indicating the valid date for free coffee.
Stock all connect areas with cards, pens, and any ministry-specific forms, such as background checks or volunteer interest booklets.
Auditorium
Prepare Seat Backs: Ensure every seat back pocket is stocked with pens, envelopes, and connect cards.
Refresh Hospitality Baskets: Stock front-row baskets with water, mints, tissue, and other essentials for pastors.
Restock Entrance Caddies: Include ear plugs, tithe envelopes, and pens.
Set Stanchions: Adjust stanchions to guide guests to seats that optimize room flow and create a welcoming environment.
Other Rooms
Serve Team Central: Clean and stock the volunteer break area with breakfast items and storage for personal belongings.
Family Room: Ensure this space, designed for families with young children, is tidy and ready for live-stream viewing.
Sunday Morning: Ready to Welcome
The morning of the service is all about execution. Teams should work together to create a seamless and joyful experience for every attendee.
Parking Lot
Set up cones, signs, and flags to direct traffic and highlight entrances.
Assign greeters to positions and ensure they’re wearing safety vests and name lanyards.
Clear walkways of snow, leaves, or other debris to maintain a safe environment.
Atrium
Turn on lights and play music to create an inviting atmosphere.
Place greeters at all entrances to offer a warm welcome.
Ensure the space is tidy and team members are actively engaging with guests.
Connect Areas
Keep gift bags organized and stocked.
Have a “Red Folder” ready to collect forms turned in during services.
Maintain cleanliness and ensure signage is in place.
Auditorium
Double-check seat back pockets for materials and clear any trash.
Monitor stanchion placement to optimize seating flow.
Ensure hospitality baskets and entrance caddies are fully stocked.
Encourage team members to actively assist guests in finding seats.
Why This Preparation Matters
Sunday services are more than a routine—they’re an opportunity to create a lasting impression. A clean, organized, and welcoming environment tells guests that your church cares deeply about their experience. More importantly, it reflects Christ’s love in the details.
Intentional preparation also equips your volunteer teams to serve with confidence, allowing them to focus on meaningful interactions rather than scrambling to fill gaps.
Your Turn to Prepare
Whether your church is large or small, the principles of preparation can transform your Sunday services. By implementing a weekly prep checklist and creating intentional processes, you can make every service a memorable and impactful experience for your community.
Let this guide inspire you to create a space where every guest feels welcomed, valued, and connected.
