10 Smart Ways to Handle Church Announcements Without Disrupting Worship

Announcements were always a struggle for me as a pastor. No matter how we tried to do them, they never felt quite right. Over time, I’ve learned better ways from observing others. If I had to do it over, here’s how I’d handle announcements strategically, creatively, and without disrupting worship.

1. Send weekly emails

Either in place of, or in addition to, making announcements during the service, send 1-2 emails each week that give the details. Encourage those folks who do not use email to note announcements in the church bulletin.

2. Capitalize on social media

Use Twitter, Facebook, etc. to remind members of events during the week. Not only can these announcements be much-needed reminders, but they can also be calls to prayer for the particular events.

3. Organize announcements well in the bulletin

One of the problems with announcements in print is that a bulletin is sometimes so cluttered it’s hard to figure out what’s happening. Prioritize clarity and conciseness by using a bullet point for each announcement.

4. Promote prayer through announcements

If the church’s bulletin or website includes a calendar of events for the upcoming week, train your church to view that calendar as a prayer list. Get them to pray for each event on the day it occurs, and you might lead some members to pray more than they’ve ever prayed for some events.

5. Use video announcements

A single brief video that covers all the announcements helps in several ways: (a) it allows folks to correct any mistakes before releasing the announcement; (b) it limits the time folks use for announcements; (c) it provides a resource for the website so others who miss the service can still hear the announcements.

6. Don’t disrupt the service

No matter how you do it, announcements in the middle of a service almost always seem to be disruptive. There are so many other options available that I see no reason to do announcements this way.

7. Don’t do the announcements at the end of the service

My reasoning here relates to my understanding of spiritual warfare. Jesus told us that Satan always seeks to snatch the seed after it’s sown, so those who hear won’t believe (Mark 4:14). If that’s the case, the enemy is at work while the Word is taught and immediately after it’s taught. I fear that if we turn quickly from preaching to announcements, we unintentionally introduce distractions the enemy might use.

8. Choose the right person to make announcements

I prefer only one person making the announcements – someone who is concise, clear, creative, whimsical, passionate, and time sensitive. Even if you use video announcements, I would look for the same type of person.

9. Do announcements just as the service begins

Then, this approach is my preferred one. Whether via video or a live speaker, use announcements to call the church to order just before opening the worship service. Do them well, but get them out of the way before worship begins.

10. When appropriate, refer to events as sermon application

If the sermon is about meeting the needs of the community, and the church is scheduled to do a food drive in the next two weeks, refer to that event as an application. It’s always good when the church’s events are appropriately connected to the Word.

What are your thoughts about the best way to do announcements?

This post originally appeared on ThomRainer.com.

Scriptures: Mark 4:14

Chuck Lawless (website: ChuckLawless.com)

View all articles by Chuck Lawless

Dr. Chuck Lawless is Dean and Vice-President of Graduate Studies and Ministry Centers at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, where he also serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions. In addition, he is Global Theological Education Consultant for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Lawless is also president of the Lawless Group, a church consulting firm. He and his wife, Pam, have been married for more than 20 years, and they live in Wake Forest, NC. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on Twitter @Clawlessjr and on Facebook.com/CLawless.

Talk about it...

William Howard

commented on Nov 9, 2015

Dr. Lawless, thank you for this. Concerning the digital age, I do understand. No problem getting younger souls on board, but I have found many seniors are content with "I've always been alright. If God wants me to know, he'll let me know. I don't need a computer or smartphone" or some have retired from the workplace and want no more computers in their life. Please keep me and others in like situations in prayer. A small congregation, most over age 60 and retired and don't want to change. Even told the Saints , it's not about us. Live in the DC area and went through a small earthquake a few years back. An event most rare for this area, but used it to ask our members (most over age 60 and retired and don't want to text) how it would make our love ones feel to hear from us when an event prevents you from calling but not texting and our "text" to them saying "I'm ok". That said, I think that this is another way of God sending boats

Sam Cotter

commented on Nov 9, 2015

Chuck . . I have always believed that Baptists can only remember no more than 2 announcements . . We try to share too much information when the very importance of our time is to worship. Your ideas are good. Just focus on the reason for gathering together as the people of God.

Joseph Yu

commented on Aug 1, 2019

Announcement should be made broadly and repetitively. Broadly is utilizing all the media channels: website, social media, cell phone, video (this is all the electronic stuff). Add to that the traditional printed stuff like our church used: an 11x17 poster posted onto bulletin board and used in PPT to be announced by the proper person as said in the article. Plus a half letter size flyer sheet (reduced from the poster design and should fit perfectly on a 5.5x8.5) as insert in the Sunday Service Bulletin, and more is available at the Welcome Desk to be taken and hand to people you want to invite. Yours truly is the person designing promo/event posters and flyers. Repetition is through the different media used as well as doing more when closer to the event. My humble sharing...