Bulletin
The printed program handed out at the door with the order of service, hymn numbers, announcements, and prayer list — or its modern equivalent on a screen or app.
What they actually mean
“"The church program. Tells you what's happening today and this week."”
Heard in the wild
“Prayer requests are on the back of the bulletin.”
“Check the bulletin for the potluck sign-up.”
The Lighter Side
A weekly publication read cover to cover during the sermon by people who insist they were listening.
The longer version
What it means
The bulletin is the handout you get at the door: a folded sheet (or a stapled booklet) with the order of worship — songs, readings, sermon title, communion if any — plus the week's announcements, the prayer list, sign-ups, staff contacts, and sometimes a sermon outline with blanks to fill in. It's the map of the service and the newsletter of the church, in one. In liturgical churches it may include the whole text of the service so you don't need the prayer book; in contemporary churches it may be a single card, with everything else on the screen.
Why people say it
Paul told the Corinthians that worship should be done "in a fitting and orderly way," and the bulletin is the order. It also solves the visitor's problem: you can follow along without knowing anything. And for the congregation it's the week's communication — the potluck, the youth trip, the hospitalized member — in the days before, and now alongside, email and apps.
How to respond
Take it, open it, and use it: it tells you when to stand, what's being sung, and what's happening this week. If you want to be prayed for, there's often a tear-off or a line for requests. If the church has gone digital and you're handed a QR code instead, scan it; the same information is there. If you find a typo, congratulations, you've found a bulletin blooper, and the church secretary would rather you didn't mention it.
If you hear it in different churches
Universal, with regional names. Catholics say "bulletin" and it's heavy on parish news, Mass intentions, and ads from local businesses. Anglicans say "service sheet" or "pew sheet." Evangelical megachurches say "worship guide" or have gone fully digital. Presbyterians and Lutherans print full orders of worship. Baptists say "bulletin" and fold in a sermon outline. Orthodox often don't have one; the service is in the books.
Where does “Bulletin” come from?
Printed orders of service appeared in the 1800s as printing became cheap; church bulletins as weekly programs with announcements were standard in American Protestant churches by the early 1900s, run off on mimeographs and later photocopiers. Catholic parish bulletins with business advertising (which pays for the printing) date to mid-century. Screens replaced hymn numbers in contemporary churches in the 1990s, and apps and QR codes began replacing paper in the 2010s, accelerated by the 2020 pandemic.
Good to know
The bulletin tells a visitor almost everything: the order of the service (so you know when to stand), the songs, who's preaching, what's coming up this week, and often the church's beliefs and staff on the back. Many churches have moved it to a screen, an app, or a QR code, which older members find a loss. "Bulletin bloopers" — typos in church programs — are a whole genre of church humor.
You might also hear
Service
Church Life & ServicesA church gathering for worship — typically on Sunday morning — with singing, prayer, scripture, a sermon, and sometimes communion, following a set order.
“"The Sunday gathering. Singing, praying, a sermon; about an hour."”
Prayer Request
Prayer & DevotionAsking other people to pray for something specific in your life — a health scare, a job interview, a struggling family member.
“"Here's what's going on with me; would you pray about it?"”
Common questions
What's in a church bulletin?+
The order of service, songs or hymn numbers, the sermon title and preacher, announcements, the prayer list, and staff contacts — the church's program and newsletter in one.
Do all churches have one?+
Most do, on paper or on a screen or app. Orthodox and some Catholic churches rely on the service books instead.
What are "bulletin bloopers"?+
Unfortunate typos and phrasings in church bulletins — "the ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind" — collected and shared as church humor for decades.
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Written by Rev. Christopher D.F. Warrington, Ordained Minister, M.Div. · Updated September 2026
This entry was compiled with AI assistance and has not yet been reviewed by an ordained pastor.