Choose a play that fits your congregation. Don't choose a play with 15 main characters if your church has less than 50 regular members.
Get the permission and approval of the pastor and deacons to produce the play. Without their help, your play will never be seen in the church.
Make announcements and post sign-up sheets for anyone who is interested in working on the play. Make sure you post a list of characters with brief descriptions. Announce that you will need actors, set builders, crew and costumers.
Hold auditions for the play. Set a time and place for the auditions, preferably on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Explain that the play is a commitment and that they must show up for practices and performances.
Cast your play with the people best suited for the roles. If someone tries out for a role and you think they are more suited for another role, cast them where you think they belong.
Hold rehearsals for the play once a week. Set a day and time, print out and distribute a rehearsal schedule and then stick to your schedule.
Work with the set builders on the layout of the stage and the set. Talk to the costumers and discuss the designs of the costumes. Set deadlines with your crew so things are finished in plenty of time.
Read the play while keeping the set and the actors' movements in mind. Make notes as you read; these will be the staging directions you give to your actors.
Block the play. Blocking a play is when you tell the actors where to stand and what to do while delivering lines. This may take more than one rehearsal, depending on the complexity of the play.
Set a date when all of the actors' lines must be memorized, and when costumes and set designs must be finished. Check on people's progress as the deadline nears.
Rehearse the play with all of the actors in costume and all of the sets in place. Perform a dress rehearsal before you perform the play to work out any problems or concerns. You'll be amazed what issues arise once everyone is in costume.
Print out programs and be sure to list the crew, the actors and their characters. Be sure to thank all of those who helped with the play.