by Rev. Heather Vais, Program Coordinator, Canada Ministries/The Vine

The bulletin is often the topic of a great deal of debate in many churches. Some churches keep the bulletin as simple as possible with minimal announcements in it. Other churches have thick bulletins filled with local and congregational announcements. Some churches don’t use a bulletin at all, opting instead, for screen projectors for the order of worship. Whatever our thoughts on the issue are, there are ways we can make the church bulletin work for us.

Some churches don’t take advantage of the bulletin as a great way to advertise the many wonderful ministries going on weekly in a church. Including the text of prayers or responses in the bulletin can give people a chance to refer to the bulletin through the week and reflect on the readings or prayers. One of my church members remarked that he carries the bulletin with him and refers to it in his time of personal prayer and reflection. He especially likes it when we provide the words to a prayer or responsive reading. Bulletins with relevant weekly announcements in them can be brought or emailed to those absent, sick or shut-in to keep them aware of goings-on in the church.

Most importantly, for a new-comer to the church, the bulletin can contain some valuable contact information and give the new-comer a glimpse of the life of the congregation.

I sent a letter to Andrew D. Weeks, who offers hospitality workshops to churches through his Magnetic Church program:

Dear Andy,

I am writing to you on behalf of Canadian Ministries/The Vine of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. In our May PC Pak we are featuring articles on the theme of “Hospitality.” Since you do extensive work around the theme of hospitality at your Magnetic Church workshops that you offer to congregations, I would like to invite you to reflect on the way churches can extend hospitality through the weekly Sunday order of worship. I have enclosed the bulletin we use at the church in which I am serving with my husband, and wonder if you would analyze our bulletin with a view to sharing with other churches how they can make their bulletins more “hospitable” to the stranger.

Sincerely, Rev. Heather Vais, Canadian Ministries/The Vine

And here’s Andy’s letter in response:

Dear Heather,

As we discussed on the phone the other day, I am enclosing my comments on the bulletin you sent to me. You asked me to evaluate it in the context of how we welcome seekers and strangers to our churches. The bulletin is one of the first documents everyone receives as they enter our churches. If our guests, particularly on their initial visit, can’t understand it or navigate through it, then they may feel not welcome, much less inspired to come back to your church. The bulletin is not just a news source for members; for newcomers, it is both a window on the church’s culture as well as a guide to the worship. The primary goal of the Magnetic Church Conferences is to help church leaders initiate, develop and nurture communities dedicated to the radical hospitality envisioned by Jesus Christ. Making bulletins user-friendly is merely one, but nevertheless a very important, component of that culture of welcome, along with media, property and signs, greeting and organization.

So please understand that as I examined the bulletin, I tried to take the perspective of someone unfamiliar not only with your church, but with Christianity itself, and with denominational differences. And I looked at it as if it were a “stand-alone” document, presuming that a visitor might see only this item. I submit these comments in the hope of raising consciousness and increasing sensitivity about how confusing and unnerving the process of “moving in” can be for any newcomer at any church. I also ask that you do not dismiss the many minor comments as petty; the effect of one is relatively insignificant; the impact of many is cumulative.

It is my sincere hope that you and others will receive these comments and recommendations constructively, seriously reflect upon them, and then incorporate those with which you concur so that your church may become even more inviting and informative for visitors and more incorporating for potential new members.

Yours truly,

Andrew D. Weeks

Download a PDF of Andy’s comments on the bulletin.

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