Paid services like Planning Center Online are great, but not every church can afford or needs all that.
Sometimes you just need a single place to collaborate and organize the details of the weekly service rundown.
Google Docs is perfect for this and it’s completely free. It does help if your church or ministry is already using Google Apps for your email, but Google accounts are free and you can actually be an editor on a Google Doc with a Yahoo! or MSN email address.
Here are a few benefits:
- Instantly know the status of every element of the service (you can color code items — ex: red for missing elements, green for elements that are ready to go)
- Instead of building a separate Word or Excel file each week and emailing it out to everyone, anyone you’d like can have access to view or edit at any time
- You can publish the rundown on a web page that you can email volunteers (no login or emails required)
- Built-in versioning (see a detailed history of every change, ever — and roll back to any point)
- You can download a .pdf or .doc version at any time for archiving if necessary
- It supports multiple pages so you can have a detailed technical rundown and a simplified version for speakers or pastors
What cool collaborative ways do you use Google Docs?
Marcus Williamson says
Good word. Google Docs ftw
Evan Courtney says
Love the formatting. Anyway you could share one with me so we could use it?
Sean Skottey says
I’ll gladly share the template that I’ve developed with whoever would like it. You can then copy and paste it into another Google Doc and use it for your own ministry. Easy!
eddie says
me too, can you share, thanks.
Todd says
I’d love access to that, too! Thanks!
Jim Doolittle says
Great write up Sean! While you’re sharing, would you share it with me also?
Thanks!
Paul Ward says
Can you share?
Kenton Church EPC says
Love to see the template if you’re around still
Chris Chapman says
Been looking for a great scheduling tool. Could you pass the link onto me also so I can use for my church?
Thanks
Sean Skottey says
Hi everyone! It’s been a few years since this post was published and I still occasionally hear from folks who are interested in a copy of the rundown. Has this been a help for you and your ministry?
Michael Evans says
Can I get a copy of the rundown? Thanks
isaiah Thomas says
Yes, can I get a copy?
Michael Evans says
I don’t know where in my files this is if you sent it to me but can I get a copy of the rundown? Thanks
Sean Skottey says
Yes, I just need the email address you’d like me to share it with.
Troy Tarr says
I just stumbled on this today and it’s fantastic! As our churches tech guy and youth worship leader, this would be an amazing help! Would you be willing to share with me? Thanks!
Mary says
I too am interested in getting a copy of your template rundown?