Microsoft Publisher made church bulletin design accessible to volunteers without formal design training. As churches transition to new tools, it's worth revisiting what makes a good bulletin. These design principles work in any application—Google Slides, Canva, PowerPoint, or LibreOffice—and help your bulletin communicate clearly while looking professional.
The Purpose of a Church Bulletin
Before diving into design, remember what a bulletin does:
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Start free preview- Communicates the service order: Hymns, readings, prayers, sermon title
- Announces upcoming events: Bible studies, potlucks, service opportunities
- Builds community: Highlights members, prayer requests, birthdays
- Serves as a take-home reference: Contact info, weekly schedule, sermon notes
A well-designed bulletin supports worship and keeps the congregation informed without overwhelming readers.
Layout Fundamentals
Keep It Simple
Resist the urge to fill every inch of space. White space (empty areas) makes content easier to read and gives the eye places to rest.
Good practice: Leave margins of at least 0.5 inches on all sides. Space out sections so they're visually distinct.
Avoid: Cramming text to the edges, using every available font, or adding decorative elements that don't serve a purpose.
Use a Clear Hierarchy
Readers should immediately see what's most important. Use size, weight, and position to guide attention.
Headings: Make them larger and bold. "Order of Worship," "Announcements," "This Week at Church."
Body text: Use a readable font at 11–12 points. Don't go smaller than 10 points.
Emphasis: Bold or italicize sparingly for dates, times, or names. Too much emphasis is the same as none.
Consistent Structure
Use the same layout every week. Readers will know where to find information without hunting.
Example structure:
- Header with church name and date
- Service order on the front page or left column
- Announcements in a consistent section
- Prayer requests, birthdays, or member highlights
- Contact info and weekly schedule at the bottom
Consistency builds familiarity. People read faster when they know where to look.
Typography Tips
Choose Readable Fonts
Bulletins are printed on standard office printers and read by people of all ages. Stick to fonts that are clear and professional.
Good body text fonts:
- Arial
- Georgia
- Times New Roman
- Calibri
Good heading fonts:
- Arial Bold
- Georgia Bold
- Trebuchet MS
Avoid:
- Script or decorative fonts for long paragraphs (they're hard to read)
- More than two different fonts in one bulletin (it looks cluttered)
- All caps for paragraphs (harder to read than standard case)
Font Sizes That Work
Body text: 11–12 points for most content
Headings: 14–18 points
Title/church name: 18–24 points
If your congregation includes many older adults, consider using 12-point or larger body text.
Line Spacing and Paragraph Breaks
Single-spaced text is dense and hard to read. Use 1.15 or 1.5 line spacing for body text.
Add space between paragraphs instead of indenting. This makes sections visually distinct and easier to scan.
Color and Contrast
Print Considerations
Most church bulletins print in black and white. Design with this in mind:
Use high contrast: Black text on white or light gray backgrounds is easiest to read.
Avoid light gray text: It looks fine on screen but disappears on cheap office printers.
Test your prints: What looks good on a monitor might not print well. Always print a test copy.
If you use color, make sure your design still works in black and white. Many members only see the printed version.
Seasonal Accents
You can add subtle touches for liturgical seasons without overwhelming the design:
- A simple border or heading color in the appropriate liturgical color
- A small icon or symbol (cross, dove, candle)
- A seasonal greeting: "Merry Christmas," "He is Risen"
Keep these minimal. The bulletin is a communication tool, not a piece of art.
Organizing Content
Front Page
Put the most time-sensitive information first:
- Today's service order
- Sermon title and Scripture
- This week's hymns or songs
- Special announcements for today
Inside Spread
Use this for recurring information:
- Upcoming events (next week or month)
- Ongoing Bible studies or small groups
- Community announcements
- Prayer requests
Back Page
Reserve the back for reference information:
- Church contact info (phone, email, website)
- Service times
- Staff and leadership contacts
- Weekly ministry schedule
This layout gives first-time visitors everything they need while regular members can quickly find updates.
Practical Design Elements
Headers and Footers
Include the church name and date in a header or footer on every page. If someone saves one page, they'll still know what church and date it's from.
Bullet Points and Lists
Use bullet points for lists of events or prayer requests. They're easier to scan than dense paragraphs.
Good:
- Coffee hour after service
- Youth group Wednesday at 6 PM
- Choir practice Thursday at 7 PM
Harder to read:
"Coffee hour after service, youth group Wednesday at 6 PM, choir practice Thursday at 7 PM."
Boxes and Borders
Use boxes or borders sparingly to highlight special announcements:
- Guest speaker this Sunday
- Special offering for a mission trip
- New member class sign-up
Don't box everything or the emphasis is lost.
Common Design Mistakes to Avoid
Too Many Fonts
Stick to one or two font families. More than that looks unprofessional and distracts from the content.
Overuse of Bold and Italics
If everything is bold, nothing stands out. Use emphasis intentionally for key dates, times, or names.
Clipart Overload
Resist adding decorative images just because you can. Every graphic should serve a purpose or support the content. A small cross or dove is fine. Ten different clipart images clutter the page.
Inconsistent Spacing
Keep margins, line spacing, and paragraph breaks consistent. Random spacing looks unfinished.
Unreadable Colors
Avoid light text on dark backgrounds for long paragraphs. It's harder to read and uses more ink when printing.
Designing for Volunteers
Many church bulletins are edited by volunteers who aren't designers. Make their job easier:
Use a template: Create one well-designed bulletin and save it as a template. Volunteers only need to update the text, not redesign the layout.
Label placeholders: Put "[Insert date]," "[Sermon title]," or "[Announcements]" in the template so editors know what to change.
Write a simple guide: One-page instructions with screenshots: "Open the template, change these sections, save as PDF, print."
Test the workflow: Have someone unfamiliar with the tool try it. If they get stuck, simplify your process.
Moving Your Design to a New Tool
If you're transitioning from Publisher, you can preserve your current design in Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Canva:
- Convert your Publisher template to PPTX or PDF
- Import it into your new tool
- Adjust fonts, spacing, and alignment as needed
- Save it as a template in the new application
This lets you keep a familiar layout while using modern tools.
Learn more about saving your Publisher templates.
Accessibility Considerations
Design bulletins that work for everyone:
Use readable fonts at a reasonable size: Not everyone has perfect vision.
Avoid low-contrast color combinations: Dark text on light backgrounds is easier to read.
Keep language clear and direct: Especially for visitors or members with cognitive differences.
Offer large-print versions: Some churches print a few bulletins at 14-point or larger for members who need them.
Testing Your Design
Before finalizing a new bulletin design, test it:
- Print a copy and read it in typical church lighting
- Ask a few congregation members for feedback
- Check that all information is easy to find
- Make sure it prints well on your church's printer
Small adjustments now save frustration later.
Next Steps
Good bulletin design is about clarity, consistency, and readability. Whether you're redesigning from scratch or converting your Publisher bulletins, these principles help your bulletin communicate effectively.
If you're converting existing bulletins or templates, start with a free preview to see how your files will look in modern formats.