BETTER BY SUNDAY w/ PCO
ACCEPT THE HELP | Ed Kerr
I’ve been using Planning Center Online (PCO)
the Doxology every week. So, that’s part of my
since it was introduced a number of years ago. I’ve found the tech support folks at PCO to be service template. Just one less entry to make
It’s remarkable to see how the service has fantastic. In dealing with some of my questions week after week.
evolved over the years. I haven’t implemented about using templates they suggested that every new feature that’s been introduced by I go beyond the basics in my template. For Someone else at my church organizes all
any means, but there are a few I’ve been using example, it’s a given that I’ll be playing piano non-musical volunteers for our services. She’s
recently that have really helped me with my in our services, so I added myself to the music scheduling people for a lot of different roles:
planning of worship services at my church in team in the template and confirmed myself. (#1) greeters, communion servers, coffee setup,
Seattle.
etc. I think she’s responsible for filling about 30
That saves me the steps of adding myself to a volunteer spots. 30! You probably have lots of
One of the most useful features for me is the plan, sending myself an invitation or confirming weekly volunteers, too. Get those positions on
use of templates. Lately I’ve developed my myself. I also have a person who mixes sound your template, and, if you’re routinely inviting
template to contain more detail than ever for us, so I added him to the plan but didn’t the same people for those positions, add the
before, and I thought I’d share that with you. On confirm him since he’s not always available. people, too. Look back over your last few
its most basic level, you can put placeholders That way his email is ready to go once I create weeks of services and make notes about the
for the spots where songs, announcements, a plan using the template. positions you routinely fill and the people who
offering and sermon, etc routinely occur.
routinely serve in those positions. Make your
PCO has excellent tutorials on their site, so You might have other musicians or tech people work easier by plugging any and all recurring
I’d suggest you watch their “Plan Templates” who serve week to week, too. If that’s the case, roles and other elements into the service.
tutorial for the essentials. go ahead and add them to your template. I
#1
have a number of people who regularly sing in The beauty of the template concept shows
our worship choir. They’ve all been added to itself when it’s time to add upcoming services
my template but not confirmed so that their to your plan. Head to the Plans tab in PCO.
invitations are ready to send as new plans are Then click on the “Add Plan” button. (#2)
created.
This will open up a window where you can
Do any elements recur week to week at the choose how many plans to add, the starting
same place in your service? Add those recurring date for the first plan, and which template to
things to your template. For example, we sing use when creating them. (#3)
#2
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June 2019
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