Church Bulletin Ideas: What to Put in Your Bulletin
A good bulletin helps visitors find their way, gives members what they need for the week, and points everyone to the service. Here are the sections and ideas that work, from welcome lines to quotes and fillers.
How it works
- 1
Tell us your church
Denomination, name, town and website. Optional: last week’s bulletin.
- 2
The assistant researches and builds
It reads your website, saves your service times, staff and photos, and lays out the issue: usually 2 to 4 minutes.
- 3
Review, refine, print
Ask for changes in plain words. Download the PDF and the Word file. Next week: “this week’s bulletin”.
Made by the assistant
The core sections
Cover: church name, date, the Sunday or occasion, a theme and one verse.
Welcome for visitors: two warm sentences and where to find the nursery, restrooms and coffee.
Order of worship or the readings, with hymn numbers.
A short pastor’s letter tied to the Sunday’s Scripture.
Announcements with when, where and contact; “This Week” calendar.
Prayer list, giving, staff and contacts.
Fillers and extras
A quote from a saint or a hymn writer; a “Did you know?” about your church history; a ministry spotlight; birthdays and anniversaries; a children’s corner with a puzzle; a Scripture memory verse; stewardship report; volunteer needs; a recipe from the fellowship meal; mission partner news.
Design tips
Use one or two typefaces; keep body text at 10–11 pt; leave white space; use one accent colour; put the most important announcement first; never split an item across columns; keep the cover verse short. The assistant applies these rules automatically.
Church bulletin quotes
“Let us not give up meeting together.” (Hebrews 10:25) · “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” (St. Augustine) · “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” (Oswald Chambers) · “Do all the good you can.” (attributed to John Wesley)
Questions
What should be in a church bulletin?
A cover with the date and occasion, the order of worship or readings, a welcome, announcements, the week’s events, the prayer list, giving information and contacts.
How long should a bulletin be?
Most churches print 4 pages; liturgical worship guides with full readings run 6 to 8.