Church Bulletins: Why They Matter and How to Use Them Effectively

A family reading a church bulletin together, illustrating how bulletins can engage all ages in the congregation. Church bulletins might seem old-fashioned in the age of smartphones and social media, but they remain a powerful tool for church communication. A well-crafted bulletin isn’t just a list of announcements – it’s a tangible connection between the church and its people. In this friendly guide, we’ll explore why your church should have a bulletin and how to make it effective. We’ll look at the important goals a bulletin serves, who the target audience is, the best time to send or hand it out, and even why some churches neglect bulletins (and how to avoid those pitfalls). Let’s dive in!

The Important Goals of a Church Bulletin

Church bulletins have been a staple for decades because they fulfill several key purposes for a congregation. Here are some of the important goals and benefits of having a church bulletin:

• Keeping Everyone Informed: At its core, a bulletin is about communication. It keeps members up-to-date on essential information like upcoming events, service details, and community news. This ensures no one misses out on what’s happening in the church family.
• Encouraging Participation and Engagement: A bulletin is not just informational – it’s relational. It can inspire action by highlighting opportunities to get involved (such as volunteering, Bible studies, or outreach programs). When people read about events or initiatives, they’re more likely to participate. For example, including a “volunteer of the week” blurb or a call-to-action for a upcoming service project can motivate members to engage.
• Welcoming and Orienting Newcomers: For visitors and new members, the bulletin serves as a friendly guide to the church. It often includes a welcome message, an outline of the service, and introductions to the church’s ministries. In fact, a church bulletin is considered an essential part of the welcoming process – it’s like a roadmap for anyone new to the congregation. This helps newcomers feel comfortable and understand what’s going on.
• Fostering Community and Belonging: A great bulletin helps build a sense of community. By sharing joys (like announcements of births, baptisms, or testimonies) and needs (like prayer requests or support for those in need), the bulletin connects people to one another. It can even feature short inspirational messages, a Bible verse of the week, or a note from the pastor to spiritually encourage readers. All of this fosters a feeling of belonging and unity in the church.
• Providing a Tangible Takeaway: Whether printed or emailed, a bulletin gives congregants something to take home or save. This serves as a reminder of church events and messages throughout the week. It’s not just about Sunday – it bridges the gap between Sundays. For example, someone might stick the bulletin on their fridge to remember a mid-week meeting or reflect on a devotional snippet included in it.
• Historical Record: Over time, bulletins become a simple record of the church’s life. They document significant events, sermon topics, and milestones. Church leaders note that bulletins even act as a historical record of the congregation’s journey – a little archive of what God has been doing in the community.

In short, the goal of a church bulletin is to clearly communicate important information while also building relationships. It’s a tool that both informs and inspires. Done right, it becomes “a tool for engagement, a connection point, and a symbol of inclusive communication” in your church.

Identifying the Target Audience for Your Bulletin

Who exactly is the church bulletin meant for? In one word: everyone! The beauty of a bulletin is that it can reach all segments of your church audience – from long-time members to first-time visitors. Here’s a breakdown of the key audiences and how the bulletin serves them:

• Committed Church Members: These are the folks who attend regularly and are involved in ministries. The bulletin keeps them informed about weekly schedules, events, and opportunities to serve. Even your most faithful members appreciate having a handy summary of what’s happening. It helps them plan their involvement and not miss anything important.
• New Visitors and Guests: For someone walking into your church for the very first time, a bulletin is incredibly helpful. Most guests expect to be handed something when they arrive – it reassures them that they’ll know what to do and where to go. A friendly greeting at the door with a bulletin is an act of hospitality in many churches. The bulletin can introduce newcomers to the church’s vision, list contact info for pastors or ministries, and include a welcome note. It’s essentially a newcomer’s guide, which makes visitors feel more comfortable and connected right away.
• Occasional or Infrequent Attendees: Not everyone comes every Sunday. Some members might attend only on holidays or once a month. Surprisingly, even those who attend only a few times a year often read the church bulletin to catch up on what’s happening. By sending bulletins (or making them available online), you ensure that these individuals stay in the loop. They might see an event or small group that interests them and decide to engage more often.
• Homebound Members and Absentees: What about members who can’t make it to church in person – due to illness, disability, or other reasons? Many churches make a point to mail or deliver bulletins to homebound members. This gives those folks a tangible connection to the church each week. In fact, printed bulletins are often sent to those who are home-bound or hospitalized, providing “a real, tangible bridge” to help them still feel part of the parish life. In the digital age, email makes it easy to send the same information to anyone who missed service. This way, everyone gets the news and no one feels forgotten.
• The Wider Community: Sometimes bulletins reach beyond just the congregation. If your church leaves extra bulletins at the welcome desk or posts them on your website, community members or seekers can read them to learn about your church’s activities. It can be a gentle outreach tool – someone curious about your church might download the bulletin online and decide to visit an event after seeing it. While the main focus is your church family, remember that the bulletin content (especially if shared digitally) is visible to anyone. So it’s an opportunity to represent your church well to the public, too.

By considering all these groups, you can tailor your bulletin to truly target a broad audience. For example, include a welcome blurb or explanation of anything a newcomer might not know (jargon or acronyms) – this makes the bulletin accessible to all. At the same time, keep the tone friendly and inclusive so both young and old, new and longtime members will find it approachable. A well-thought-out bulletin ensures everyone in the audience – members, visitors, and beyond – benefits from it.

When and How Often Should You Send Out the Bulletin?

Timing is everything! To maximize the impact of your church bulletin, you’ll want to send or distribute it at the right time and interval. Here are some tips on when to share your bulletin:

• Weekly Consistency: Most churches issue a bulletin once a week, typically tied to the Sunday service. Consistency is key – picking the same time every week helps people know when to expect it. If it’s a printed bulletin, it’s usually handed out every Sunday during worship. For email or e-newsletter bulletins, many churches choose a particular day mid-week or towards the end of the week. In fact, a common practice is to send the weekly bulletin email on Friday, so that people have the info for the coming Sunday. Others prefer mid-week (Wednesday or Thursday) to catch people when they’re not as busy as on Monday or as checked-out as on Friday. The good news is there’s no one “perfect” day – what matters most is being consistent so the congregation can rely on that regular update.
• Before the Weekend (for Planning): Sending the bulletin before the weekend is helpful because it puts church events on everyone’s radar as they plan their days off. Many churches avoid sending it on Monday (people are catching up on work) or on Saturday (people might already be busy or offline). That’s why mid-week or Friday tends to work well, as it keeps the church “top of mind” during the week. For example, if there’s a special event on Sunday, a Friday bulletin email can remind members to attend or invite friends, whereas Sunday morning might be too late for them to adjust plans.
• Sunday Morning Handouts: If you have a printed bulletin, the classic approach is to distribute it on Sunday at the church entrance. Greeters or ushers usually hand them out with a smile as people arrive. This practice not only delivers information but also creates a warm, welcoming moment for each person walking in. (Many people genuinely like having something in hand to follow along with during the service or to take notes on.) Make sure your team is in place to give bulletins out before the service and maybe have extras on a welcome table.
• Supplementing with Digital Copies: Even if you hand out paper bulletins on Sunday, it’s wise to send a digital copy via email or make it available on the church website in advance. That way, people who may miss the service or prefer a digital format can still access it. Some churches send a PDF or email on Thursday/Friday and still hand out a printed version Sunday. Others have moved to primarily digital (via email or even a church app) but might print a few copies for those without internet access. Choose what fits your congregation.
• Special Timing for Special Content: Think about whether certain information needs to go out earlier. For instance, if you’re promoting a big event or a sign-up, you might mention it in the bulletin a few weeks in a row. Additionally, some churches produce a monthly newsletter or calendar insert (covering the whole month’s key dates) that goes out at the start of the month, alongside the weekly bulletins. This can help people mark their longer-term calendars. But for most routine purposes, a weekly bulletin cadence keeps everyone regularly informed and engaged without overloading them.

In summary, send your bulletin consistently on a weekly basis, and aim for a timing that gives your members a heads-up before Sunday. Whether that’s Friday for the weekend or Wednesday to brighten up the mid-week, stick to whatever schedule you set. Your congregation will come to appreciate the regular rhythm – and they’ll be more likely to read it when it arrives on time every time!

Why Do Some Churches Neglect Bulletins (and How to Avoid It)?

Despite all the benefits, you might notice some churches don’t have a bulletin or stopped using one. Why would a church neglect or be hesitant to make a bulletin? Here are a few common reasons – along with tips on how to address them so your church doesn’t miss out on this valuable tool:

• “It Takes Too Much Time and Effort.” One major reason is the perceived drain on resources. Preparing a quality bulletin every week does require effort – gathering announcements, formatting, printing or emailing, etc. In some churches, the secretary or admin might spend an entire day each week just on the bulletin tasks. Plus, printing many copies can get costly, especially if you use color or fancy paper. It’s understandable that a busy or small church might feel they don’t have the time or budget. What can we do? Keep it simple and share the load. If time is an issue, consider using templates or bulletin builder tools to streamline formatting. If cost is an issue, try printing in black-and-white or reducing the size/page count, or switch to an email bulletin to save on paper and printing costs. You could also recruit a volunteer team to help gather content or fold papers. Remember, the bulletin doesn’t have to be fancy – it just needs to be consistent and clear.
• “Nobody Reads the Bulletin Anyway.” Some church leaders get discouraged, thinking the bulletin isn’t effective. You might have heard someone say, “We put it in the bulletin, but no one even looks at it!” 😟 In some places, it’s true that bulletins end up in the trash unread, or left behind in pews. In fact, it’s observed that ushers often end up picking up lots of discarded bulletins after service, and staff may insist on making verbal announcements because they feel “no one reads the bulletin”. This can create a sense that all the work of making a bulletin has little return on investment. How to overcome this? Make the bulletin more engaging and make sure people know it’s there! First, ensure the content is relevant and fresh (nothing turns readers off like last month’s news or empty space). You can add interesting tidbits (a short testimonial, a fun fact, a thank-you note) so there’s something to catch the eye beyond dates and times. Second, try reminding the congregation to check the bulletin. The pastor or worship leader can hold it up and highlight one or two items (“See the bulletin for details on next week’s picnic!”). Over time, as people find useful info there, they’ll develop the habit of reading it. And don’t be discouraged – surveys have shown that a vast majority do read their church bulletins regularly. It may just be a matter of improving the content and awareness.
• “We Have Other Communication Channels Now.” In the digital era, some churches rely on screens, social media, or websites instead of bulletins. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many stopped printing bulletins and switched to online updates out of necessity. Even now, you might find churches that use slideshow announcements, text messages, or Facebook posts to share news, thinking a bulletin is no longer needed. It’s true that we should use new tools – but that doesn’t mean the bulletin is obsolete. Each medium has its strengths. The bulletin is unique because it’s a one-stop, comprehensive roundup that people can reference at their convenience (and it doesn’t require Wi-Fi or a login). If your church is tech-savvy, the solution could be to combine methods: maintain a weekly e-bulletin that mirrors what you’d put in print. An emailed bulletin can actually reach more people than a paper one alone, and it can be easily forwarded to friends or newcomers. You can also integrate the bulletin with your website (for example, post the bulletin PDF or highlights on a news page). Embracing digital formats for your bulletin is fine – just ensure the content is still organized like a bulletin so nothing falls through the cracks. The key is not to drop communication, but to deliver it in the ways people will see.
• “We Tried Bulletins and It Became a Hassle.” Some churches give up on bulletins because it turned into a headache. Perhaps arguments arose over what to include/exclude, or ministries felt in competition for space. Sometimes bulletins became overstuffed with so many announcements that it overwhelmed readers (or stepped outside the church’s core mission). To avoid burnout or drama, it’s important to have a simple communication policy. Decide what kind of announcements go in the bulletin and keep the focus on things relevant to the whole church or its mission. You might limit the number of items, or rotate lesser announcements on alternating weeks. By keeping the bulletin focused and mission-oriented, you’ll prevent it from becoming a dumping ground for every little detail. Also, plan ahead so that you’re not scrambling at the last minute each week – having a consistent process (with deadlines for submissions, for example) will make producing the bulletin less stressful.

Bottom line: While there are valid challenges in producing a weekly bulletin, none are insurmountable. With a bit of planning, the right tools, and a team effort, even a small church can create an effective bulletin without it becoming a burden. The payoff is worth it – an engaged, informed congregation that feels connected. As one church communications expert noted, the bulletin (printed or digital) is still an incredibly effective way to reach people in the pews. So rather than neglecting it, find a format that works for your church and make it the best it can be!

Bringing It All Together

A church bulletin, when done thoughtfully, is so much more than just a piece of paper or an email attachment. It’s a friendly handshake at the door for a visitor, a weekly newsletter for members, and a rallying cry for the community to come together. By outlining clear goals (informing, engaging, welcoming), knowing your audience, sending it out consistently, and avoiding common pitfalls, you can create a bulletin that truly supports your church’s mission.

Remember, the goal is not perfection – it’s connection. Whether your bulletin is a simple one-page flyer or a creative digital newsletter, if it helps even one more person feel informed and involved, it’s achieving its purpose. Many church leaders today still affirm that bulletins are important, if not necessary for keeping the church family unified. So don’t hesitate to start or rejuvenate yours. Make it friendly, make it useful, and people will appreciate it.

In the end, a great church bulletin is a labor of love that says, “We’re a community, and we want you to be a part of it – here’s what’s going on and how you can join in.” With that kind of warm invitation showing up in their hands or inbox each week, your congregation is sure to stay informed, feel valued, and move forward together toward the right goals. Happy bulletin-making!