The novel Coronavirus pandemic has shifted the way we think about church – considering that the only known way of spreading the disease is what has come to be known as ‘social distancing’. With Easter fast approaching, churches are coming up with new ideas of how to ‘do church’
Table of Contents
- What’s happening to Easter now?
- Email sequences
- How to use email sequences for Easter?
- Example of Easter Sunday email sequence
- Example of Easter Conference email sequence
- Example of Easter Sunday service newsletters
- Example of kids Easter activities newsletter
- BONUS > content ideas for Easter newsletters
- Where do I find imaged for church newsletters?
Normally, we would congregate at church and attend services, have prayer meetings and small group gatherings. That’s not possible now – we have to keep away from these types of gatherings because it’s impossible to know who is a carrier of the deadly COVID-19 virus.
Churches are in overdrive mode getting their services online and reshuffling activities to virtual spaces in an effort to prevent a complete shutdown of the church as we know it.
So what’s happening to Easter?
This is a question that has popped up on online forums for the past few days and church leaders are in some sort of limbo because everything depends on the latest developments of the coronavirus. Initially, group gatherings of less than 100 people were allowed in many countries.
But then in the last few weeks, this has gone down to gatherings of 10 people and less being allowed to meet.
But the show must go on – just now how we are used to.
So instead of in-person services, churches are live streaming worship services. Small group activities are moving to platforms like Zoom, Google Hangouts and Skype.
Social media and email have proved to be the real MVPs during the coronavirus outbreak – churches are using it now more than ever to communicate with believers. If you weren’t using email newsletters before, you should *definitely* use them now!
In the event that plans have to change suddenly – like with the COVID-19 outbreak, email newsletters are a great way of communicating the change of plans, what the new plans are and how this will happen.
Yes, people are on social media and you should definitely make announcements there too – but more people have email accounts (almost everyone!) so email is very useful in this way.
What are email sequences?
This is when you send a series of emails (like 3-4) at different stages of an event (also called the sales funnel in marketing lingo). These emails can go out over a couple of days and it’s a great way of reminding people about your event or activity as well. This is a great strategy for church Easter services, conferences and events.
How to use newsletters for Easter church email sequences?
Because the majority of in-person Easter events are cancelled and there will probably be some alternative events happening online, you have to communicate this with the congregation.
Considering that Easter is such a big event on the church calendar (it’s like the biggest one after Christmas!) we thought it a good idea to put some ‘Easter during the coronavirus’ email templates together.
You can find these editable templates here
Easter Sunday Service Email Newsletter Sequence
Email 1: We’re moving online
Email body text
Dear Harmony Generation family,
As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak we have been urged by local government to cancel all in-person services until further notice. In an effort to stop the spread of disease and protect the health of the elderly and health-compromised, we made the decision to move our Easter Celebration service online.
We are excited to make this move, but we are still working on the logistics of it all. We will keep you updated with more information as it comes through. In the meantime, stay safe, healthy and blessed!
Email 2: Find us online
Email body text
Hi folks🙂 Hope you are surviving cabin fever!
We’ve had a busy few days getting everything together for our online Easter celebration service. For our Easter Sunday service, we will be live streaming via Facebook and YouTube (links in the newsletter).
We will post the live streaming link on our Facebook pages and on our website. If you miss the live streaming, you can find the videos on our YouTube channel and Facebook page on Tuesday, 14 April at 9 AM. As always, we will keep you updated via our social channels and email.
With love and prayers,
Harmony Generation Media Team
Email 3: Easter Sunday happened!
Email body text
A massive thank you to everyone who made our Easter Sunday online service possible. And of course to you, our audience. We are so happy that we were able to worship together, from the comfort of our homes. If you want to watch it again – the videos are up on our YouTube channel, Facebook page and website.
Easter conference email newsletter sequence
Email 1: You are invited!
Email body text
Our Easter conference is happening online this year 🤩
We have had to change our programme because of travel restrictions and social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Instead of an entire weekend of sessions and services, we are hosting 3 speakers via live streaming on Saturday, 11 APRIL 2020.
We will be making the programme available shortly, you can tune into whichever session you wish. If you’re planning to attend, please click the RSVP button in the newsletter below. We can’t wait to host you!
Email 2: It’s almost time for our Easter Conference
Email body text
Hi, Harmony Generation Family🙏
We hope that you are enjoying family-time and home. Our Easter Conference is happening in 10 days! We are excited to host you online – if you haven’t RSVP’d, please click the RSVP button in the newsletter.
We are making the live streaming links available in the attached newsletter, the links will be active on the 11 April from 8 AM. Our first speaker starts at 9 AM.
See you soon!
Email 3: Five days to go until our Easter Conference
Email body text
Have you RSVP’d for our Easter Conference?
If you haven’t, this is your final reminder email 😉 Please click the RSVP button in the newsletter. 5 days to go…Can’t wait to e-meet you!
Email 4: Thank You
Email body text
What an Easter Conference! We were blessed with worship, word and prayer. We couldn’t have done it without you! Videos of our speakers are available on Facebook, YouTube and our website.
Now that you’ve seen some examples of email sequences and how to use them, here are some ideas for single email newsletter templates you might want to use:
Sunday Service
Email body text
Hi Harmony Generation Fam!
As you know, COVID-19 has us in a right pickle with our in-person services! Luckily we have an awesome tech team and they are working around the clock to come up with the best solutions.
In the attached newsletter, you can find all the details for our Sunday services and small group meetings. We are so grateful for your patience during this time. Let’s continue to pray for each other.
Kids Activities
Email body text
If you’re stuck for Easter-related activities with the kids while they are at home, check out our newsletter!
Content Ideas for your Easter Newsletters
Wondering what to put in your Easter newsletter? We have some *eggcellent* ideas:
- Devotionals – pick an Easter-related scripture or reading and write some bullet points to guide members
- Worship playlist – create a playlist on YouTube or Spotify and share the link in the newsletter.
- Easter service invitation – create a beautiful invitation card and include it in the pre-Easter newsletter
- Scripture – send out a week’s worth of scriptures with some notes for bible study
- Links – always include the links of the church social media pages and websites
- Prayer requests – send our newsletters with prayer requests and praise reports
- Updates – send our regular updates of online services and small group virtual meetings via email newsletters
Fun activities to do at home – put it in the next newsletter paper:
- Easter dress up – Kids can do Easter-themed dress-up (think bunnies and eggs!) and parents and send pictures through to add to the next newsletter
- Easter dessert challenge – send out recipes in newsletters and challenge members to make the dessert and post pictures online. Easter egg hunt – parents can record kids doing an Easter egg hunt in their homes and post the video on the church social pages or small group chats
- Fancy hat contest – challenge the ladies to a fancy hat contest online! Members make hats from household items and post pictures online. Include the top 10 pictures in the next newsletter
- Easter word search – include a printable easter word search in the church newsletter
Where do I find free pictures and graphics for our Easter Newsletters?
Email newsletters look *so* much better with graphics and images – but we have to be careful because online images come with copyright and licensing issues. There are loads of sites with FREE images (licenses included) so why not use those?
Here are our top 4 sites:
- Church Motion Graphics – some of their graphics are free, but you can sign up for the paid version where you can access lots more. You can also find backgrounds for PowerPoint slides and themed graphics (like for Easter!)
- Igniter Media – made an Easter graphic pack and Service-from-home graphic pack available for free!
- Unsplash – is a website with loads and loads of images, use the search function to find Easter-themed pictures.
- Pexels – free to use images and lots of pictures of beautiful church landscapes.
Now that you’re all sorted with content ideas, FREE newsletter templates and websites for images and graphics – you are ready to make *beautiful* Easter newsletters!
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