Sync Events to Your Personal Calendar
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Why Sync Church Events to Your Calendar?
When connected correctly, you can:
✔ See church events alongside personal and family schedules
✔ Receive reminders on your phone
✔ Automatically stay updated when schedules change
✔ Avoid double booking yourself
Once set up, it updates automatically.
GOOGLE CALENDAR
Step 1: Add the Calendar to Google Calendar (Desktop Required)
⚠️ This step must be done once on a computer or browser in desktop mode.
Go to:👉 https://calendar.google.com
On the left side, find Other calendars.
Click the + icon.
Select From URL.
Click Add calendar.
The ACC calendar will now appear under Other calendars.
Optional: rename the calendar for easy access
Step 2: Turn the Calendar On
After adding:
Locate the new calendar in the left sidebar.
Make sure the checkbox next to it is selected.
You should now see Planning Center events on your desktop calendar.
Step 3: Make It Appear on Your Phone
On your phone:
Open the Google Calendar app.
Tap the ☰ Menu (top left).
Tap Settings.
Scroll down and tap your new ACC calendar.
Turn Sync ON.
Go back to the calendar list and make sure it is checked/visible.
After a minute or two, events will appear.
Step 4: Give It Time to Sync
Planning Center calendars update automatically, but Google refreshes subscription calendars periodically.
Typical timing:
First sync: 1–5 minutes
Future updates: every few hours
No manual updates are needed after setup.
Helpful Tips
Rename Your Calendar
On desktop Google Calendar:
Settings ⚙️ → select the calendar → rename it to something simple like: ACC
Color-Code Your Calendars
Use different colors to separate areas of life:
Church / Ministry
Family
Work
Homeschool
Appointments
This makes your schedule much easier to read at a glance.
Troubleshooting
Calendar added but not showing on phone?
Make sure:
You are signed into the correct Google account.
Sync is turned ON in the calendar’s settings.
The calendar is checked in the app menu.
Most issues are simply a visibility or sync toggle.
You’re All Set!
Once connected, your church calendar will automatically stay in sync with Google Calendar — helping you stay organized, prepared, and present for the things that matter most.
iPHONE CALENDAR
Step 1: Add the Calendar to Your iPhone
Now we’ll add the calendar directly into iOS.
Open Settings on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap Calendar.
Tap Accounts.
Tap Add Account.
Select Other (at the bottom).
Tap Add Subscribed Calendar.
Tap Next.
Tap Save.
Your iPhone is now subscribed to the ACC Event Calendar.
Step 2: Make Sure the Calendar Is Visible
Open the Calendar app on your iPhone.
Tap Calendars at the bottom of the screen.
Look for ACC Event Calendar.
Make sure it has a ✅ checkmark.
Tap Done.
You should now see ACC events appear on your calendar.
Step 3: Allow Time for First Sync
The calendar may take a minute or two to load events the first time.
After that:
✅ Events update automatically
✅ Changes sync in the background
✅ No further setup required
Helpful Tip: Color-Code ACC Events
To make church events easy to spot:
Tap Calendars in the Calendar app.
Tap the ⓘ next to ACC Event Calendar.
Choose a color (gold or blue works great!).
Now ACC events stand out at a glance.
Troubleshooting
Don’t see events yet?
Try this:
Close and reopen the Calendar app.
Confirm the calendar is checked under Calendars.
Wait a few minutes for the first sync to complete.
You’re All Set!
Your iPhone will now automatically stay updated with everything happening at ACC.
No more searching for event times — your church schedule comes right to you.
If this helped you, share it with another church member so everyone can stay connected!
Staying connected helps us grow together as a church family.