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Celebrating your church anniversary is an important part in the life of your church. Not only is your church anniversary a fun and effective way to retell your church’s story to new visitors, but it’s also an important moment to shine the spotlight on those whose lives have been transformed and are making a difference at your church.
Yet it can be hard to know where to begin or how to celebrate. That’s why we’ve created this list of church anniversary ideas to help you get started! From church anniversary decor ideas to church anniversary souvenir ideas, there are so many ways your church can use this annual event as a special occasion to reflect on God’s faithfulness, celebrate your community’s growth, and cast vision for the future.
By intentionally planning your celebration, your church anniversary can become more than just a milestone—it can be a powerful moment of worship, gratitude, and renewed purpose for everyone who calls your church home.
You can use your church anniversary celebration as an outreach for greater ministry, inviting the whole community into your doors. Here are 22 creative church anniversary ideas for your annual celebration!
The first step to any church anniversary celebration is good communication! That starts with getting the word out about your church. While digital invites are important (see more below), a church anniversary flyer or postcard is a great place to start. Posting flyers and sending out postcards are simple yet effective means to get the word out about your big celebration. Be sure to include images, pertinent information, and QR codes on your invites so guests can easily access sign-up pages or links for more info.
When creating your designs, it’s important to pause and ask yourself whom you’re trying to reach. Are these mailers going out to folks who’ve already visited your church before? To members? To new people? Are they going out to your entire community?
You may want to consider creating two different types of invites, one for those who have been to your church before, and a generic one repurposed for outreach. If you’re looking for a few church anniversary flyer ideas, as well as verbiage for your invites and postcards, here are a few templates you can use:
Template for members & regular attendees:
[Church Name]
##th Anniversary Celebration
You’re Invited!
[Date/Info]
Don’t miss this special Anniversary Sunday where we celebrate God’s faithfulness and grace at [Church Name] with in-person testimonies, brand-new church merch, and a free community meal. Bring the whole family to celebrate!
[RSVP or sign-up code & info]
Template for first-time visitors:
[Church Name]
##th Anniversary Celebration
You’re Invited!
[Date/Info]
Have you been thinking about attending church but aren’t sure where to start? You have a place at [Church Name]! Come learn about our church’s story and enjoy a free meal for the whole family.
[RSVP or sign-up code & info]!
For some church anniversary design ideas, check out Subsplash’s library of free graphic templates for your church so you can easily get started on your designs!
Planning your church anniversary celebration service takes intentionality and discretion. What does this day mean in the life of your church? What exactly do you want people to experience on this special Sunday?
Unfortunately, some churches make the mistake of making their church anniversary celebration service all about their church’s history and leadership. But this special day is really all about God! Your anniversary Sunday is a time to celebrate God’s work in your congregation, including baptisms, generosity, volunteers, small groups, lives and hearts transformed, mission trips, and ministries. That means you have a lot to celebrate!
Here are a few church anniversary celebration ideas to consider for your Sunday morning service:
Most churches pass out special programs for Easter and Christmas Eve. Take a page from your holiday celebrations and create beautiful church anniversary programs as well! Like your church anniversary flyers and invites, your church anniversary programs should be intentional and reflect the excitement of this special day.
For some church anniversary program ideas, consider including:
For some other tips on church anniversary program ideas, check out our blog all about it here.
Coffee and water are great staples in your church lobby, but imagine taking it up a notch. Bring more energy and excitement to your Anniversary Sunday with festive snacks and drinks that help everyone celebrate together.
If you’re not going to offer a picnic or community meal after your Sunday services, then enhancing your food and beverage stand is a great way to help families feel celebrated and excited. From festive doughnuts, muffins, fruit stands, and coffee cake, to coffee and tea, there’s a lot to choose from.
For church anniversary ideas, your church decor should reflect this special day! Creating a welcoming environment in your church lobby is a great way to welcome congregants and visitors into the celebrations. If you’re looking for church anniversary decor ideas, here are a few fun options:
For church anniversary ideas, there’s nothing better than including moving and powerful testimonies in your Sunday morning service.
The lives of families, children, and individuals have been touched at your church, and there are many who are willing to share that story. Every week, lives are being changed within your congregation. Families are being restored, hearts renewed, and faith strengthened. By giving people a chance to share their stories, you remind the whole church of the impact God is making through your community and how each person plays a part in that greater story.
Here are a few ideas for testimonies at your church anniversary Sunday morning service:
Revelation 12:11 says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”. Sharing a testimony at your Sunday service is effective because it puts the power of the Gospel front and center at your church anniversary service.
If your church anniversary is a big number, such as ten or twenty, then it’s time to offer a new church anniversary souvenir! Need some church anniversary souvenir ideas?
With so many custom products available today, you can choose from a wide variety of options, including:
Make sure it reflects your church’s heart and story, and is a useful keepsake.
If you’re still looking for gift ideas for church anniversary celebrations, consider faith-based apparel, devotional books, or limited-edition items. Whatever you choose, consider adding your church’s logo, mission statement, and/or anniversary number to mark the occasion. These keepsakes not only serve as beautiful reminders of your church’s legacy but also strengthen your sense of community.
If you’re looking for great church anniversary ideas, why not use your Anniversary Sunday celebration as an opportunity to update your church merch or offer a special limited-time sale?
By updating your church merch, you can generate excitement about your upcoming anniversary celebration! Christian apparel is super popular today, especially among younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z. Church apparel gives your congregation something meaningful to wear and share, helping them celebrate your church’s story while sparking conversations about faith throughout the community.
After your church anniversary Sunday morning service, consider celebrating with a free community meal. Food is a wonderful way to bring people together in celebration. It’s also an opportunity for outreach and ministry, and is a huge incentive to get people excited and coming to your Sunday service.
Whether you choose a catered meal, food trucks, or a church potluck, offering a sit-down community meal together after service opens the door for new visitors to feel welcomed, cared for, and invited into deeper fellowship with your church community. Don’t forget to include an anniversary cake at your potluck for all to enjoy!
Celebrate your church’s journey and impact by creating a visual display in your church lobby that showcases your story! This could include photos from past events, milestones in your ministry, testimonies from members, and highlights of community outreach.
A church anniversary wall not only honors your history but also inspires visitors and members alike, showing them the tangible ways God has worked through your congregation over the years. Church members will have fun spotting their own photos on the wall. You can even include Sunday school crafts from children. It’s a powerful way to make your church’s mission and legacy visible in real time.
As you’re planning your big celebration day, it’s time for some new church anniversary graphics! You’ll utilize your church anniversary graphics in multiple ways, including:
Make sure your church anniversary graphics are thoughtful, intentional, and represent your church well. Include pertinent information, exciting moments to look forward to (such as a free church meal), and next steps. Consider including photos, logos, or mission statements.
Whatever you choose, Subsplash’s free Canva templates can help you get started!
Volunteers are a huge part of the life of your church. There’s no doubt that many committed and hardworking volunteers have donated hundreds of hours to your church over the years, helping it grow, thrive, and making Sunday morning services possible. Without their sincere efforts, your church wouldn’t be the welcoming, thriving community it is today.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 describes how each person matters in the Body of Christ. For your next celebration, great church anniversary ideas for your Sunday morning service include honoring those members of your church body who have sacrificed their time, energy, and resources so your church can thrive and reach more people in the name of Jesus.
Whether you give them a plaque, have them come up on stage, or pray over them, this moment demonstrates to your congregation how integral church volunteers are in the life of your church.
Many churches have baptism Sunday once or twice a month. Your church anniversary Sunday offers a great opportunity to host your next baptism Sunday! In real time, your members and visitors can see the effects your church is having as you help to transform lives and draw others to Christ.
Baptism is an important part of being a Christian (John 3:5, Acts 2:38). By putting baptisms front and center on your church anniversary Sunday, it demonstrates the living, transformative power of faith in action and celebrates the spiritual growth happening within your congregation. And, if you’ve got new church merch for your Anniversary Sunday, you can give those being baptized a new t-shirt or hoodie to commemorate this momentous day in their life!
The future generation of the Church is the youngest! From young children and teenagers to high school students and college students, the next generation is an integral part of your church body. That’s why it’s so important to honor the people, ministry, staff, and volunteers who faithfully minister to this younger generation, as well as the students they serve.
Get creative! Poll students and ask them how they want to be included in your special church anniversary Sunday. Perhaps ask a high schooler or college student to share their testimony of how your church and volunteers have impacted their life. Or, consider having the youth lead worship on your anniversary Sunday! Be intentional about how you choose to honor the children, teens, and students at your Sunday service.
Does your church anniversary celebration coincide with an end-of-year giving campaign, Giving Tuesday season, or a special church fundraiser? Use your anniversary Sunday as the culmination of your fundraiser!
Easily tie your anniversary celebration into your fundraising efforts by highlighting the impact of your church’s ministry over the past year. Share stories of how donations have supported programs, outreach, and community initiatives, and show attendees how their contributions make a difference. Consider creating a special offering moment during the service, providing anniversary-themed donation materials, or even offering commemorative items to encourage giving while celebrating your church’s milestones.
To make church giving as simple and easy as possible on your church anniversary, utilize innovative tools like Subsplash Tap! It’s important that congregants can support your giving campaign as they’re moved throughout your anniversary Sunday service.
For exciting church anniversary ideas, consider turning your anniversary Sunday service into an outdoor church picnic!
Rather than having your Sunday service indoors, an outdoor picnic offers a fun and festive way to celebrate the momentous occasion. With the right planning and sound equipment set up beforehand, you can still make announcements, share testimonies, preach a sermon, and close out in prayer.
Offer bouncy houses for the kids and coincide your picnic with an annual festival. However you choose to host outdoors, this exciting format is memorable and a unique way to honor your church’s anniversary. Don’t forget to consider the weather, pavilions, and other necessary outdoor elements too.
Turn your church anniversary into a meaningful moment of community outreach!
Instead of staying within the walls, take your church outside on this special Sunday. Work with local nonprofits and ministries like homeless shelters, soup kitchens, orphanages, or senior centers to offer care, companionship, and a tangible expression of your church’s heart for the community.
This moment of outreach on your anniversary Sunday exemplifies your mission statement and that the church’s mission is to go and share the Gospel with all people.
Your church anniversary is an exciting moment to launch a new theme for your church. As your church leadership anticipates the new year, what is God laying on your heart? What are you expecting, hoping for, or praying for?
If you’re looking for a new theme or phrase, here are some ideas:
Sometimes your church community is facing a struggle together. For instance, what has happened in your church in the past year? Has your congregation faced tragedies, major world events, and uncertainties, or experienced staff changes? Or, has your church experienced great transformations, outreach moments, missions, victories, and answers to prayer? Or some combination of the above?
When deciding on your theme, Bible verse, or special phrase for the year ahead, it’s important to know your congregation and take into account what they’ve been through so that your theme feels relevant and timely to their lives.
In order to attract attention to your church anniversary celebration, consider buying new church signage. These can be placed on the road to let people know about your upcoming celebration Sunday, or can be used inside for your photo booth, for church lobby updates, and on the stage for your Sunday service.
For church anniversary ideas, make your lobby count! From church lobby tables for small group sign-ups, next steps classes, volunteer information, and outreach ministries, you want to utilize your church lobby tables for this momentous occasion.
Your Sunday service should inspire congregants to catch the vision and want to contribute in meaningful ways. Without utilizing your church lobby, you may inspire people during your Sunday morning service, but leave them unsure where to go next. Instead, be sure to make the most of your inspiring Sunday service and give people the opportunity to commit to getting involved right after your service ends.
Whether you live in a large city or a small town, there are likely newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and local TV channels that are popular among your community. Consider reaching out to them for a press release, interview, or feature article spotlighting your upcoming anniversary event—especially if it’s a milestone like 10 or 20 years!
Additionally, get the word out online—sharing your event on social media, community calendars, and your church website, so you can reach both current members and new visitors.
It’s likely that for your Easter and Christmas Eve services you run ads on Facebook and Instagram (Meta ads), inviting people to your church. Well, with your church anniversary, you can do the same thing!
Use Meta ads to spotlight your special anniversary event, share compelling stories from your congregation, or promote any anniversary-themed activities like community meals, volunteer opportunities, or commemorative merchandise. Target both your current members and local residents who might be looking for a church home, and consider using eye-catching images or short videos to make your ads stand out in feeds.
With the right messaging, these ads can help draw in new attendees while celebrating the milestone of your church’s journey.
A church anniversary is an important part of your story. Not only does it help people know your church’s history, staff, and accomplishments, but it also helps put the spotlight on those who have followed Jesus and served faithfully for many years, past and present. This can be an amazing Sunday to offer a free community meal, reach out into your local community, and invite new people into your church’s story.
Your church anniversary Sunday can draw people to how God has powerfully moved in your congregation. It can serve as a wider church testimony to all God has accomplished since your church’s beginning—in and through your church staff, volunteers, donors, and missions. With proper planning and intentionality, you can turn it into a celebration people look forward to every year.
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