A Better "Order of Service" Page: Make It Easy for Visitors Without Over-Explaining

4 min read

bulletin visitors

First-time visitors don't know when to stand, when to sit, or what happens after the sermon.

They don't want to look clueless. So they hang back, hesitate, and feel more like spectators than participants.

Your order of service can help—if it orients them without reading like a user manual.

What Visitors Actually Need

Visitors aren't looking for deep theological explanations of each liturgical element. They want to know:

What's about to happen?
When should I participate?
How long until it's over?

That's it. Answer those questions simply.

What to Include

Section Headers

Break the service into clear sections. Use plain language.

Good headers:

Welcome
Worship (or Music)
Message (or Sermon)
Response
Benediction (or Closing)

Avoid insider terms without context. "Doxology" means nothing to most visitors. If you use it, add a note: "Doxology (a song of praise)."

Time Cues (Optional)

If your service follows a predictable rhythm, time cues can help anxious visitors.

Welcome — 10 min
Worship — 20 min
Message — 30 min
Response — 10 min

You don't need to be exact. Approximations are fine. This just helps people know what to expect.

Participation Moments

Identify when people participate: singing, greeting, communion, offering.

A simple key or note helps:

Worship — Feel free to stand, sit, or kneel as you're comfortable. Lyrics are on the screen.

Greeting Time — Take a moment to say hello to those around you.

Communion — Open to all who follow Jesus. We'll explain the process before we begin.

Visitors are most anxious during participation moments. A sentence of guidance reduces that anxiety.

Sermon Info

Include:

Sermon title
Scripture reference
Speaker name

Optional: sermon notes or fill-in-the-blank if that's your format.

Avoid: full paragraphs of sermon summary. The preacher will explain it.

What to Leave Out

Long Explanations

If your church practices infant baptism, you don't need to explain the theology in the bulletin. Save that for the new members class.

The order of service is for orientation, not education.

Every Song Title

Unless you're using hymnals and need to direct people to page numbers, you don't need to list every song. Lyrics on the screen are enough.

If you do list songs, keep it simple: title only, no artist credits.

Staff Bios and Photos

Your website is where visitors can learn about leadership. The order of service doesn't need three paragraphs about Pastor Mike's seminary training.

A name is enough: "Message: Pastor Mike Johnson."

Ministry Descriptions

The bulletin might have announcements, but the order of service section isn't the place for paragraphs about each ministry. Keep it focused on the service itself.

Visitor Annotations

Small notes that remove uncertainty make a big difference.

Where to add them:

Next to worship: "Words will be on screen"
Next to offering: "As our guest, please don't feel obligated"
Next to communion: "Gluten-free option available"
Next to message: "About 30 minutes"

Tone:

Welcoming, not instructional. "Feel free to..." rather than "You should..."

Format:

Small italic text beneath the section header. Unobtrusive but visible.

Example:

Worship
Feel free to stand or sit. Lyrics are on the screen.

Communion
Open to all followers of Jesus. We'll guide you through it.

Offering
If you're visiting, this is for members—please don't feel obligated.

These annotations take 30 seconds to write but significantly improve the visitor experience.

Formatting for Scannability

Visitors scan the order of service while the worship team plays or during a quiet moment. Make it easy.

Clear section breaks. Use white space or lines to separate sections. Hierarchy. Headers bigger than body text. The order should be visually obvious. Icons (optional). A musical note for worship, a microphone for message, etc. Can help visual learners navigate quickly. Timing on the right (optional). If you include time cues, right-align them so the structure is clear:

Welcome ........................... 10 min
Worship ........................... 20 min
Message ........................... 30 min

Print vs. Digital

Print order of service:

Concise (space is limited)
No links needed
Assume they can't look things up mid-service

Digital order of service (on website or app):

Can include links to song lyrics, giving page, etc.
Can be updated if something changes
Might include "tap for more info" expandable sections

If you offer both, the print version should be simpler. Digital can add extras.

Sample Order of Service

First Community Church

Sunday, March 15 — 10:00 AM

Welcome

We're glad you're here.

Worship

Feel free to stand or sit. Lyrics are on the screen.

Announcements Message

"Unshakeable: Building Faith That Lasts"

Matthew 7:24-27

Pastor Mike Johnson

Communion

Open to all who follow Jesus. Instructions will be shared.

Closing Song Benediction

New Here? Stop by the Welcome Center in the lobby. Kids? Check-in is in the East Building.

Simple. Welcoming. Clear.

The Balance

You're walking a line:

Enough information to orient visitors
Not so much that it overwhelms or condescends

Err on the side of brief. If they need more detail, they'll ask—and that's an opportunity to connect.

The order of service isn't a substitute for a welcoming culture. But it removes small barriers that might make a visitor feel out of place.

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