Hey, it’s Brady,

Churches tend to default to the same thing every Mother's Day.

Here are 5 ideas to make this year unforgettable - not just for the moms being celebrated, but for the entire church.

#1: THE LETTER WRITING STATION

Set up a table in the lobby. Nice stationery. Envelopes. Pens. A sign that reads: "Write a letter to your mom."

Provide stamps for moms who live far away. A basket for letters to moms who've passed.

The twist: you could also have moms write a short blessing to their kids. A letter FROM mom. And don't limit it to biological mothers. Letters to anyone who played that role.

Tactile. Personal. And it extends Mother's Day beyond the sermon into something people do with their hands.

#2: THE MOM REPORT

Sixty seconds. Shot on a phone. Asking the question: "What's one thing your mom always said?"

Film 8-10 people answering this. The less polished it is, the more it'll resonate.

You might get responses like this: "Oh yeah, my mom always said to us before school dropoff: ‘just keep trying and be a good friend.’ That always stuck with me."

#3: THE OUTWARD FOCUS

Not just celebrating the moms in your building. Serving the moms outside of it.

Partner with a local women's shelter. A crisis pregnancy center. A foster care agency. For example:

The Diaper Drive - Announce it 2-3 weeks before Mother's Day. Collect diapers, wipes, formula. Simple. Specific. Easy for everyone to participate.

Or - the offering that Sunday goes to a maternal cause. "This Mother's Day, our offering supports [organization]."

#4: THE "WHAT MOM ACTUALLY WANTS" SURVEY

A few weeks before Mother's Day, send a simple Google Form to the moms in your church.

"What would actually make Mother's Day at church meaningful for you?"

Ask if they'd prefer to be recognized publicly or celebrated privately. Ask if anything about Mother's Day at church has made them uncomfortable in the past. Then use the real answers to shape the service.

#5: THE MOM PANEL

Instead of a traditional sermon, host a panel of 3-4 moms. Pastor moderates. 15-20 minutes. Conversational. Unscripted.

A new mom. A mom of teenagers. An empty nester. A grandmother.

Ask questions like: "What's the hardest part of this season of motherhood that no one talks about?"

Multi-generational wisdom.

Since 2023, I’ve worked with 500+ churches on social media, and one pattern kept showing up - across every size, style, and denomination. It wasn’t better design, gear, or a younger team. Let’s look at what the data actually reveals.

Get our insights here.

Thanks as always for your time, attention, and trust. Talk to you next Thursday. - Brady Shearer