Event Registration
The Events section of the Member Portal keeps you informed about everything happening at your church. You can browse upcoming events, view event details, register to attend, and cancel registrations -- all in one place.
Browsing Upcoming Events
- Log in to the Member Portal.
- Click Events in the sidebar navigation under the "Church" section.
You will see a grid of upcoming events, each displayed as a card with:
- Event image (or a colorful placeholder if no image was uploaded)
- Date -- Shown prominently with the month and day
- Title -- The name of the event
- Time -- When the event starts
- Location -- Where the event takes place
- Short description -- A preview of the event details
- Registration status -- Whether registration is open, closed, or the event is full
Click any event card to view its full details.
Viewing Event Details
The event detail page provides comprehensive information about an event:
Date and Time
- The full date (day of week, month, day, and year)
- Start time and end time
- If the event is an all-day event, it will say "All Day Event"
Location
The venue or address where the event takes place. If a map link is available, you can click it for directions.
Description
The full description of the event, which may include an agenda, what to bring, dress code, or other relevant details.
Event Type
Events may be tagged with a type such as Worship, Social, Outreach, Youth, or other categories your church uses.
Registration Status
If the event requires registration, you will see one of these indicators:
- Registration Open -- You can register for this event.
- Full -- The event has reached its capacity limit.
- Registration Closed -- The registration deadline has passed.
- Registered -- You are already registered (shown with a green checkmark badge).
Registering for an Event
To register for an event that has open registration:
- Open the event detail page by clicking on the event.
- If registration is open, you will see a Register button.
- Optionally fill in:
- Number of Guests -- How many additional people you are bringing (up to 10).
- Notes -- Any special information the event organizers should know (dietary needs, accessibility requirements, etc.).
- Click Register.
- You will see a confirmation message: "You have been registered for this event!"
Your registration status will update to show "Registered" with a green checkmark.
How "Number of Guests" works
The maximum guests-per-registration value is set by the church when they create the event -- it is the source of truth, not the 10-guest example shown in the form. Some events allow no guests at all (registration is for one person only), while large events may permit a higher cap. The form will only let you enter a number up to the limit configured for that specific event.
Each guest you add counts against the event's overall capacity, so a registration of "you + 3 guests" reserves 4 of the available spots.
Canceling a Registration
If your plans change and you can no longer attend:
- Open the event detail page.
- Look for the Cancel Registration button (it appears when you are already registered).
- Click Cancel Registration.
- You will see a confirmation message: "Your registration has been cancelled."
Your spot will be freed up for other members to register.
Tip: If you cancel your registration for an event that is full and later change your mind, you may not be able to re-register if the spot has been taken.
Adding an Event to Your Calendar
After you register, the event detail page shows an Add to Calendar option that downloads a standard .ics calendar file. Open the file and your calendar app (Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, Outlook, etc.) will offer to save the event with the correct date, time, and location. You can also subscribe to an iCal feed of your serving schedule -- see 10-volunteer-scheduling.md.
Group Events (For Group Leaders and Members)
If you are a member of a small group, Bible study, or ministry group, that group's leader can host group-only events directly from the leader's portal -- not every group event appears on the church-wide Events page.
How group events work
- Group leaders create a group event from My Groups > [Group name] > Create Event. The event is automatically associated with that group.
- Members of the group are invited and can register from the group page or directly from the event detail screen.
- Leaders can view the registration list (who has signed up, with how many guests) from the group's event detail page.
- Group events use the same registration form as church-wide events -- guest count and notes both apply.
Registering for a group event
If you are a member of the group, register the same way you register for any other event: open the event detail page and click Register. Your spot is saved against the group event's capacity, and the group leader will see your name in the registration list.
If you are not yet a member of the group, you may need to join the group first before you can register. See 06-group-participation.md.
Events on the Dashboard
You do not always need to visit the Events page to stay informed. The dashboard shows a preview of upcoming events, making it easy to see what is coming up at a glance. Click any event on the dashboard to go directly to its detail page.
Events from the Public Church Page
Even before logging in, you may be able to see upcoming public events on your church's home page. However, to register for events, you will need to sign in to the Member Portal.
Linked Forms
Some events may have associated forms (such as a volunteer sign-up form or a liability waiver). If forms are linked to an event, you will see them on the event detail page with a button to fill them out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I do not see any events. Why? A: The Events page shows only upcoming, active, public events. If your church has not posted any upcoming events, the page will be empty. Check back later, or contact your church office.
Q: Can I register my family members for an event? A: Use the "Number of Guests" field to indicate how many additional people will attend with you. For events that require individual registration, each family member will need to register using their own portal account.
Q: Will I get a reminder about an event I registered for? A: This depends on your church's notification settings. Check your Notifications page for any event reminders. You may also receive email reminders from your church.
Q: I cannot register for an event. What should I do? A: Registration may be closed because the event is full, the deadline has passed, or the event does not require registration. Contact your church office if you have questions about a specific event.