Story Ideas for Church Newsletters

Newsletters keep people informed, so it is no wonder that churches publish newsletters for parishioners. Newsletters allow a church to spread the word on recent news events taking place in the church, wedding, birth and baptismal announcements, financial information, attendance and a host of other information that keeps the congregation informed and invested in the community.

Use a humorous story as an attention grabber. Most people like to laugh, so aim for the funny bone. Include jokes that involve children, such as the one where the Sunday school teacher asks her class of five year olds if there is a commandment on how to treat sisters and brothers. A little boy quickly stood up and proudly said, “Thou shalt not kill.” For adult humor, try the story about the mother that tried to get her son out of bed for church over his protests that they don’t like him and he doesn’t like them. The mother replied with, “Nonsense, you are the preacher.”

Many churches support missionaries that travel the globe. Stories from the mission field are inspirational and intriguing, especially when they revolve around hardship and recovery. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, many stories of survival appeared in the news and many more in the churches that served the people there. Interview missionaries supported by the church and people in the congregation that have served in the past. Sharing the different life experiences that missionaries see offers parishioners that have not known hardship a new perspective.

Look on the bookshelves at the local department stores, book stores and library and you will find Christian fiction. A short story can help the young parishioners deal with everyday temptations or a couple seek help with their marital problems. It can encourage giving through tithes, meals to the elderly and visits to the sick. An inspirational story can act as a sermon played out on paper.

Include stories about the people that keep the church running -- who they are and what they do. Interview the groundskeeper, the secretary, the music director, and staff behind the scenes. Consider writing about newsworthy events taking place in the church, like a change of staff or purchase of some equipment. The newsletter should give people the opportunity to discover more about the church that they support.