5 Best Tools for Creating Church Bulletins

Church bulletins remain one of the most effective ways to share the order of service, announcements, and upcoming events with visitors and members. Thanks to modern design tools and free templates, creating professional church bulletins is easier than ever. This post reviews five user-friendly tools that pastors and volunteers can use to design attractive bulletins for print or digital distribution. Each option offers customizable layouts, drag-and-drop editors, and church-specific features such as sections for Scripture passages, song lyrics, and event highlights

Canva: Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Editor

Canva is a web-based graphic design platform that many churches use for bulletins. It provides a vast library of ready-made templates, including themed designs for worship services. As one reviewer notes, “Canva helps churches design bulletins with templates and easy drag-and-drop tools”. You simply pick a layout and replace the text and images. Canva’s interface is highly visual and beginner-friendly, with church graphics, fonts, and stock photos built in.

Key features and pros:

• Free templates: Thousands of free layouts (some premium ones too). You can find bulletin designs that include space for Scripture verses, hymns, sermons, and announcements.
• Easy customization: Add and style text boxes, images, and icons by dragging and dropping. You can insert your own church logo, sermon title, or verse. Church volunteers can quickly change colors and fonts to match the congregation’s style.
• Collaboration and output: Work online with others in real time. Download your finished bulletin as a print-ready PDF, or share it digitally via email or church website.

Ideal use case: Canva is great for any church that wants eye-catching designs without hiring a designer. Small teams can start with a free account (nonprofit groups even get Canva Pro for free) and produce polished bulletins and flyer-style programs on a regular basis.

Microsoft Word: Familiar Word Processor with Templates

Microsoft Word is the classic way to make church bulletins. Almost every church office already has access to Word or the free online Office apps, so no extra signup is needed. Word includes many brochure and newsletter templates that can be adapted for bulletins. You can use columns, images, tables, and text boxes to arrange content. According to one review, Word “offers a variety of templates that you can customize to fit your church’s needs,” and its “familiar interface” makes it easy to create professional-looking bulletins.

Key features and pros:

• Built-in templates: Word’s template gallery includes multi-column layouts suitable for orders of service or announcements. You can download free church bulletin templates from Microsoft or other sites.
• Full formatting control: Easily insert sermon notes, Bible verses, song lyrics, and contact info. Use tables and columns to align text and images neatly. Word’s spell-check and grammar tools help ensure accuracy.
• Offline editing: Work without an internet connection if needed. Save files as PDF or high-quality print. If you use OneDrive, multiple team members can still collaborate.

Ideal use case: Word is ideal for churches that want a simple, no-frills solution. Staff or volunteers familiar with Word can quickly edit the bulletin content each week. It’s especially handy for text-heavy bulletins (with lots of announcements or readings) because you can customize every detail.

bltn: All-in-One Church Bulletin Builder

bltn (available at usebltn.com) is a tool made specifically for church bulletins, offering both print and digital outputs. It uses a block-based editor, where you choose sections like announcements, sermon notes, Scripture, images or video and drag them into place. According to reviews, bltn’s “drag-and-drop builder lets you customize bulletins with ease, placing content exactly where you want it”. The platform includes a media-rich block library: you can add announcements, sermon bullet points, worship lyrics, prayer requests, and even embedded media.

Key features and pros:

• Church-specific content: The editor has sections for everything a bulletin needs. For example, you can include a Bible verse reading block or a hymn lyrics block right in the layout. Templates are pre-formatted with worship service order, making it easy to fill in pastor notes and songs.
• Digital and print formats: bltn creates both a printable PDF and a mobile-friendly online bulletin. Users can email or text the bulletin link to congregation members. In fact, one description calls it a “media-rich bulletin” system where churches can send the bulletin via text message or email.
• Ease of use: Non-designers will appreciate the intuitive interface. Changes are previewed in real time, and bulletins can be archived automatically. Basic analytics (views, downloads) are included so you can see who accessed each bulletin.

Ideal use case: Any church that wants a unified system for bulletins should consider bltn. It works well for congregations that distribute both printed handouts and emailed bulletins. Since it’s church-focused, you won’t have to build a bulletin layout from scratch — the default templates already include sections like worship order and prayers. There is a free tier to try out the basics, and paid plans for larger needs.

Loop Bulletin: Modern Digital Bulletins

Loop (by Tithe.ly) is designed for the 21st-century church. Rather than focusing on print, Loop is built to deliver bulletins as web pages accessible via a link or QR code. The editor uses a drag-and-drop section approach – you simply add sections (like Announcements, Giving, Prayer Requests, Event Calendar, Sermon Notes, etc.) in the order you want. As Breeze ChMS explains, “with Loop, you simply drag and drop the sections you’d like to add to your church’s bulletin. Then, using the pre-built templates, you can quickly edit the details”.

Key features and pros:

• Digital-first design: Loop bulletins are published online. Congregants access them on smartphones or computers (no app download required). Any updates you make are instant – if a last-minute change is needed, you edit the Loop bulletin and it refreshes for everyone.
• Interactive elements: You can embed online giving links, connect cards, or registration forms directly in the bulletin. This means readers can tap a button to give or sign up for an event right from the bulletin page.
• Simple scheduling: After entering your content, you can publish immediately or schedule the bulletin to go live on a specific date (handy for weekly bulletins). The platform also offers themed templates to streamline creation.

Ideal use case: Loop is excellent for churches that want to go paperless or supplement printed bulletins with digital versions. It shines for tech-savvy congregations that read information on phones. For example, a Loop bulletin can include a calendar of events and allow people to RSVP by clicking a link. While it requires internet access, the convenience and engagement features can significantly expand how members interact with announcements and resources.

BulletinPlus: Event-Focused Bulletin App

BulletinPlus (bulletinpl.us) is a straightforward tool geared toward event communication. It provides customizable bulletin layouts and integrates tightly with church calendars. One review calls it “known for its simplicity and ease of use,” and notes that “the platform also offers various templates to streamline the creation process”. In other words, you select a design template, fill in your text and images, and publish.

Key features and pros:

• Event and announcement integration: BulletinPlus is particularly strong at making event-specific bulletins. You can create a bulletin for an event (say, a community service or church picnic) complete with RSVP links and maps. The tool can pull dates from your calendar and ensure each bulletin highlights upcoming events. Reviewers note that it “excels in integrating event details directly into bulletins”, so members always see what’s happening next.
• Mobile app availability: Congregants can install the BulletinPlus app to receive bulletins and push notifications. This means important announcements or last-minute changes can be sent directly to phones.
• Quick setup: With themed templates and a clean editor, even volunteers with limited tech experience can build a bulletin in minutes. You can match your church’s branding with custom colors and cover images.

Ideal use case: BulletinPlus works well for mid-size churches with regular events who want an easy digital bulletin solution. If your congregation is active on mobile, the app notifications keep everyone informed. It’s especially useful for highlighting registrations (new members class, outreach events) since you can embed signup links and track responses. A free trial is available, and paid plans start around $20/month, which may be more affordable than regular printing costs.

In summary, a good church bulletin combines clear information with attractive design. The tools above make it much easier to achieve both. For instance, including relevant scripture passages and song lyrics is a recommended bulletin practice, and all of these programs allow you to add those easily. Whether you prefer a versatile design platform like Canva, a classic editor like Word, or a specialized app like bltn or Loop, each of these five tools lets your church communicate in style. We encourage you to try their free versions or trials. Find the one that fits your church’s needs and workflow – your congregation will appreciate the polished, easy-to-read bulletins.