Breathing New Life Into Lent & Easter Events — Without Burning Out Volunteers
From Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, churches offer more opportunities to serve than almost any other time of the year. These weeks are rich with community events — and they also bring a familiar challenge for many parishes: organizing volunteers.
Over the years, we’ve worked with thousands of churches preparing for this season. Below is a seasonal guide to common events during Lent and Easter, along with practical ideas to sign up volunteers without overwhelming parishioners or staff.
Lenten Events
Lent often includes weekly gatherings and ongoing service efforts, which means volunteer needs repeat and can add up quickly. Online signups and clear communication help ensure the workload is shared throughout the season.
Fish Fries & Soup Suppers
Shared meat-free meals that bring the parish together on Fridays during Lent. Volunteers can serve as:
- Kitchen crews (prep, cooking, frying)
- Servers and hospitality
- Dessert table attendants
- Cashiers and raffle ticket sales
- Setup and cleanup teams
Food Drive
A tangible way to practice Lenten almsgiving for neighbors in need. Volunteers can help with:
- Announcing the drive at Sunday services
- Sorting donated goods
- Helping families carry items
- Packing boxes for distribution
- Delivering donations to partner organizations
Parish Mission or Speaker Series
Evening gatherings to support the Lenten pillar of prayer and reflection. Volunteers often help with:
- Hospitality
- Refreshments
- Room setup
- Tech or AV support
Easter Events
Many churches mark this joyful season with family-centered celebrations that rely on many helping hands. These events often involve busy families and newer volunteers, who benefit from simple, clear signups.
Egg Hunt & Easter Bunny Photos
A festive tradition for families with young children. Volunteers can help with:
- Stuffing and hiding eggs
- Setting up an arts & crafts station
- Helping with photos or crowd flow
- Cleanup afterward
Decorating for Easter
Transforming the church and gathering spaces from Good Friday to Easter Sunday is a big undertaking in a short window of time. Volunteers can pitch in with:
- Flower arranging
- Sidewalk chalk decorating (great for kids)
- Preparing taper candles for the Easter Vigil
- Decorating gathering spaces
Easter Vigil Reception or Parish Brunch
Hospitality for newly initiated members of the church and their families. Volunteers can help by:
- Setting up tables and chairs
- Preparing a buffet or potluck
- Greeting guests
- Serving refreshments
Spring Clean-Up Days
As the season changes, volunteers can support with parish-wide efforts to care for shared spaces:
- Yardwork and grounds cleanup
- Planting and gardening
- Mulching and landscaping
- Organizing supplies and storage
- Earth Day service projects
Five Ways To Keep Volunteers Engaged—Without Burnout
Across many parishes, a few practices consistently help volunteer coordination run more smoothly.
- One central place for signups
Keeping all opportunities in one place makes it easier for everyone to see where help is needed. - Letting volunteers choose how they serve
Parishioners appreciate being able to browse opportunities and pick roles that fit their schedule. - Clear expectations
When setting up shifts, be sure to include details about any physical requirements and the time commitment involved. - Reminders
Automatic reminders reduce no-shows, save time, and reduce stress for both volunteers and coordinators. - Easy first steps
Simple signups encourage new volunteers to get involved for the first time.
A Simple Way to Organize Volunteers
Unison is an ad-free tool that makes signing up easy. It’s built by the same team behind Ministry Scheduler Pro, which serves over 3,800 churches nationwide.
Create a Free Signup for Lent or Easter
