Good question, Keith. I guess for us it depends on what you mean by "planning." The final details are usually week of or no more than two weeks out, even for big days. However, the general theme and work on special things like presentational songs, drama, or video production are usually put into motion a few weeks to a few months out.

Our preacher here in Antioch just broadly outlined a sermon series that will run through the summer. We'll try to prayerfully generate some creative ideas that we might use on specific Sundays. However, many of the details will still be week to week.

Sugar Grove, the church in the Houston area where I was for almost 14 years is planning a 10 year celebration of their "new" facility and "mortgage burning" in August. Many of the larger pieces of that weekend have been in planning for weeks now. They've invited Virginia and me back to participate on that weekend, but I probably won't know what songs I'll be leading until their worship planning group puts it all together a couple of weeks ahead of the August date.

People usually plan things(activities in general, or special presentations in worship) about 2 weeks out.... Jonathan's lucky if he hears about it 2 days before the event.

For most "normal" services planning is usually done the week before. The preacher usually has ideas for about a month out, but the worship order is almost always put together the Monday before. (ie the order for Sunday the 25 is put together Monday the 19)

The earliest DH has done his planning was Tuesday before Sunday. The latest was 5 minutes before service Sunday evening.

Hugs,
Melinda