We know that planning ahead isn’t always easy...

That’s why we created this handy guide for the year’s major holidays and celebrations to help you get ahead of the game! This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it does contain events that we design for churches just like yours, year after year.

Here’s the cool thing:

Getting all your ducks in a row early on before a major event hits not only reduces the stress you might be used to feeling, but it also gives our Squad plenty of time to create a memorable design experience that your church community will love.

(Plus, if you already have your Christmas series designed, packaged, and ready to go by mid-November, well, kudos to you, my friend.)

So, this year, let that last-minute scramble of cobbling something together from Google images be a distant, terrible memory of the past.

This year, let’s do something great, purposeful, and with the power to (literally) change lives.

Landmark Events

    
            Holiday
            Lands On
            Submit Projects
        
            Martin Luther King Jr. Day
            January 19
            January 9
        
            Ash Wednesday
            February 18
            January 29
        
            Daylight Savings Time Starts
            March 8
            February 24
        
            Palm Sunday
            March 29
            March 17
        
            Maundy Thursday
            April 2
            March 23
        
            Good Friday
            April 3
            February 17
        
            Easter Sunday
            April 5
            February 18
        
            National Day of Prayer
            May 7
            April 27
        
            Mother's Day
            May 10
            April 20
        
            Pentecost
            May 24
            May 4
        
            Memorial Day
            May 25
            May 15
        
            Father's Day
            June 21
            June 1
        
            Independence Day
            July 4
            June 24
        
            Labor Day
            September 7
            August 26

            Halloween
            October 31
            October 13
        
            Daylight Savings Time Ends
            November 1
            October 22
        
            Veterans Day
            November 11
            October 30
        
            Thanksgiving Day
            November 26
            November 6

            Christmas Day
            December 25
            September 25
        
            New Year's Eve
            December 31
            November 30

Task Turnaround Times

The following is a general guideline of what turnaround times usually look like at Church Media Squad. During busier church media seasons like Christmas and Easter, turnaround timeframes might be extended. Church Media Squad always recommends that you plan your media needs as far in advance as possible.

In This Guide:

General Tasks Video Tasks Other Tasks

General Tasks

2-3 BUSINESS DAYS

EVENTS: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.
SERMON SERIES: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.
EASTER/CHRISTMAS: Submit at least THREE WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.
WEEKLY BULLETIN UPDATE: Must be submitted by MONDAY, END OF THE DAY, for delivery before the end of the day on Friday. Weekly update requests submitted after Monday are not guaranteed a turnaround time within the same week.

3-4 BUSINESS DAYS

POSTER/FLYER: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.
SIGNAGE: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.
MERCH: Submit at least ONE TO TWO MONTHS before you need to start using the final files.
SOCIAL PACKS: Submit at least FIVE DAYS before you need to start using the final files.
SLIDE PACKS: Submit at least FIVE DAYS before you need to start using the final files.
CONNECT CARD: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.
POSTCARD: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.

4-5 BUSINESS DAYS

BROCHURE: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.

5-6 BUSINESS DAYS

BULLETIN REDESIGN: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using the final files.

Video Tasks

3-5 BUSINESS DAYS

ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEOS: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using your video.
TESTIMONIAL VIDEOS: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using your video.
LOWER THIRD ANIMATION: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using your video.
FULL SERMON PRODUCTION: Sermon production only is produced by END OF DAY TUESDAY IF files are submitted no later than 10AM EASTERN MONDAY MORNING.
SERMON CLIPS: Submit your clips with a plan to USING IT THE WEEK AFTER THE SERMON.

5-6 BUSINESS DAYS

EVENTS RECAP/PROMO VIDEO: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using your video.
SERMON BUMPER: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using your video.
COUNTDOWN VIDEO: Submit at least TWO WEEKS before you need to start using your video.

CUSTOM

CUSTOM VIDEOS: See a Project Manager for turnaround times.

Other Tasks

OTHER PRINT PROJECTS

A Project Manager will notify you of the turnaround time, when scheduling.

LARGE LAYOUT TASKS

Turnaround times will depend heavily on the type of content. Layouts that are very text-heavy with no infographics, illustrations, or other design assets will take less time than those that require asset creation.
Please reach out to a project manager with the content for a time estimate on Large Layout Tasks.

Squad Working Days and Times

The Squad is 100% remote, with Squad Members located worldwide. Generally, the Squad works on projects during regular US business days and hours, Monday-Friday. The Squad is closed on Saturdays and Sundays to allow our staff to spend time with their friends and families and serve in their local churches.

The Squad is also out of office (OOO) on the following dates:

Thursday/Friday of Thanksgiving
Extended Christmas break (usually Dec 23-Jan 3)
Some US Federal Holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day)

When you need a revision on your project, we aim to complete these within a few business hours, but please allow up to the next business day in some cases.