How to… write an effective
notice sheet
Many churches give out welcome sheets to people who attend their services. They are a way of keeping the
regular congregation up to date with what is happening in your church as well as being a handy reference
point for visitors and newcomers.
A notice sheet is one of the first things that people receive, with their order of service, when they come into
the church. The format it appears in and the information it includes says a lot about the sort of church you
are. This means it is important to take care with your message and presentation. A well produced notice
sheet that makes your church activities look appealing may encourage people back to church.
Have a template that can be updated every week to save time for the compiler. Simple designs can be more
effective than fussy, complicated layouts.
What to include
Welcome
First, welcome people to your church, whether
they are regular members of the congregation or
just visiting. You may find it helpful to explain the
procedure for taking Communion i.e. should
people hold a book in their hands or keep their
hands folded if they want a blessing? How about
toys and changing facilities for children, the
location of the toilets or an invitation to stay for a
coffee and a chat after the service? Anything
specific that visitors to your church might need to
know should be explained here.
Readings
List the Bible readings you plan to use that week
and the next, so people can read them in advance
of hearing them in church.
Many churches include the Collect for the day and
list the hymns that will be sung that morning, with
page numbers.
Service schedule
Include a table with service times and events for
the following week, clearly dated, so that people
know when they can come again. You may find it
helpful to include a brief description of each event
with contact details to help newcomers to get
involved.
Notices
Always include the what, who, where, when and
why in events listings. Every listing should have
contact details so people know where to go for
more information. Keep each notice short, no
more than a paragraph per item.
Prayer requests
Why not include a small form for people to fill in
if they would like a home visit or to be prayed for.
If you decide to do this, make it clear where the
slips should be left after the service and have pens
next to the box for people to use.
Contact details
Make sure you list contact details for the
incumbent, church wardens etc, as this is always a
handy reference for them to keep in their homes.
Include contact details for the people who put the
notice sheet together, so that people know where
to send their contributions. Giving a deadline for
submissions can also be helpful for the
administration team.
Layout and fonts
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Keep all font sizes to 12 point or above,
with a larger size for headings
Stick to one standard font. Sans serif fonts
without small lines at the end of characters
are quicker to read (use Arial rather than
Times New Roman)
Avoid clip art if possible as it can easily look
unprofessional. If you must use some clip
art, try to use designs with a consistent style
to coordinate it
Avoid using light coloured font on a light
background or dark coloured font on a dark
background. Not having adequate contrast
can make it difficult for people with limited
vision to read
Avoid using fussy print effects as these can
date your publication
Avoid underlining, as this can be confusing
for those with limited vision. Instead, use
bold or slightly larger text
Do not write phrases in capitals i.e.
WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH. Lower
case letters are easier to read because there
is more shape to the words, whereas capital
letters are uniformly rectangular in shape.
Writing in capital letters is often considered
aggressive and impolite
Proof reading
Always ask someone else to proof read the
document before you distribute it. Choose
someone with excellent spelling and grammatical
knowledge or mistakes might gradually appear.
Most importantly, follow up your welcome sheet
with a genuine welcome. If someone new comes to
your church, have a chat, invite them over for
coffee and enjoy getting to know them. For more
help, try Open to all, a resource to help you create a
more welcoming church.
Training
The Church of England offers communication
training courses for all aspects of church
communication. To find out more, visit
www.commstraining.cofe.anglican.org/2010/flc.php