{GASP!}
The way church planters get stuff done is by framing all church activity in the most spiritual light possible. Nothing wrong with that.
The set-up team is like a band of Levitical priests setting up the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Serving in the children's ministry is like Jesus letting the little children come to him. And so on...
But for yeeears, I had trouble finding someone to create the bulletin. I referenced Tertius, who transcribed the Apostle Paul's epistle to the Romans, =) but no one was buying. So I agonized and wrestled with this for almost two years before I finally realized...
"Dude, it's just a stupid bulletin. Kill it."
And do you know what..?
Not a single person complained after we stopped making bulletins. Okay, maybe one old guy. But since we had a simple church structure, we made the same 3 announcements every week (there were no pot-lucks or work-days to pimp), and we let people take notes on {gasp} their own paper.
It was a revolutionary idea...
We didn't need a bulletin.
huh.
We did the same a month or so ago with no complaints. We replaced them with a news blog for any pertinent updates.
Posted by: Michael Mathews | July 29, 2008 at 01:48 PM
I've thought about axing them. But, ultimately I think it's important to give visitors something tangible they can hold on to and read (or pretend like they're reading)pre-service. I think the awkward factor increases for them if they come in, sit down and have nothing to keep them busy.
Posted by: Dan | July 29, 2008 at 02:02 PM
We did the same thing two weeks ago. We didn't have a full-time designer any more and needed to trim the budget. So we bought the domain www.NoMoreBulletin.com and had business cards designed.
One Sunday, everyone walked in to find those cards on their chairs. Said we were saving green and going green. Not one complaint!
Posted by: Clayton Bell | July 29, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Michael beat me to it. We were nervous about what kind of feedback we'd get . . .
We've heard no complaints, and have seen the subscriptions to the news blog go WAY up!
Posted by: Travis Thompson | July 29, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I've been tossing the idea around...primarily with the thought of that we are living in a more web-based and tech savvy culture. That I think we can communicate information via the website or church blog and do away with the bulletin.
Posted by: boyd bettis | July 29, 2008 at 02:20 PM
thanks for giving me permission to do what i already wanted to.
Posted by: jason | July 29, 2008 at 02:43 PM
haha - I love it. If you run a simple church you make the same 3 announcements each week.
Posted by: Billy Chia | July 29, 2008 at 03:35 PM
I begged my pastor to kill the bulletins at a leadership meeting. A 50-something woman YELLED at me. It is scary how attached some people can get to a piece of paper covered in ink. Seriously.
Posted by: deneenwhite | July 29, 2008 at 09:45 PM
WHat are the same 3 announcements that you make??
Posted by: aris rivera | July 30, 2008 at 11:47 AM
they were:
1. newcomer's lunch on the last sunday of the month
2. you were handed a brochure when you came today, please fill out card
3. small groups start on _________ (quarterly start dates for multiple on-ramps throughout the year)
Posted by: Ben Arment | July 31, 2008 at 08:51 AM