4 . MAP OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR . [ Future Prep ]
If you created a master plan for 2024 in January or before , summer is a great time to revisit , revise , and extend that plan .
( If you didn ’ t , now is a fantastic time to map out the rest of 2024 and 2025 .)
Look out over the landscape of September through next May :
• Note the holidays and special events that occur within your church .
• Pencil in personal retreat days , team training events , and conferences you might attend .
• Work backward from significant events like Christmas and Easter to schedule rehearsals , planning days , and create deadlines for setlists , graphics , videos , and other elements needed .
Here ’ s an easy and free way to view the whole year . Download the free printable calendar from this site . You can set whatever range you want and include holidays .
5 . HOST A CHRISTMAS PLANNING PARTY . [ Future Prep ]
It ’ s beginning to look a lot like … July .
You probably won ’ t be planning all your Christmas songs this summer , but it will help to start seeing what ’ s out there .
6 . GET REAL ABOUT REAL BARRIERS . [ Future Prep ; Ministry Growth ]
The lull of summer is a great time to think about what challenges you want to overcome or growth areas you want to break through over this next year .
Schedule a two- to three-hour block and go somewhere that ’ s conducive for uninterrupted work .
Think about all the challenges , barriers , or frustrations that are holding your team back from growing or affecting you as the leader .
Don ’ t worry about finding solutions to those barriers at that moment . Just prioritize them . That is , which obstacles or issues are the biggest to overcome ?
And then determine which barriers , once you break through them , will give your team the most growth potential .
Once you determine your top barriers or issues , then you can start to formulate a plan to tackle each one .
Important : As you plan your attack on these barriers , don ’ t tackle more than one at a time — two at the most . Attempting to fix too many issues at once dilutes your efforts ( and will frustrate your team members ).
7 . PREP FOR TEAM MEMBER REVIEWS . [ Future Prep ; Ministry Growth ]
Doing annual team member reviews ( the right way ) will both deepen the commitment of your team members and accelerate their growth as a team member .
However , most worship ministry leaders don ’ t do team member reviews . They ’ re timeconsuming and can be emotionally draining for the leader .
And to do them right requires planning several months in advance .
Don ’ t know where to start with team member reviews ? While we don ’ t have space here , let me give you two things to help .
First , here are a few critical questions to ask in a review meeting :
• How committed are you to serving on the
Pull your core leaders and your senior pastor / teaching pastors together for a “ Christmas in July Planning Party .”
Bust out the Christmas decorations and ugly sweaters , whip up some wassail , and spin a vinyl of Bing Crosby ’ s White Christmas .
Then , map out what Advent 2024 will look like at your church .
If you ’ ve never planned Christmas this far ahead , it may seem ridiculous at first . But when October ’ s edging into November , you ’ ll be so glad you laid the groundwork this summer .
32 June 2024 Subscribe for Free ...