A church email newsletter people actually read.

A church email newsletter people read: what to put in a weekly sermon recap, newsletter ideas, a simple weekly rhythm and sample emails to start from.

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Three sample church emails: a dark green Recap, Keep asking with three bullet points and a Watch the message button, a yellow note from the pastor with two events, and a lavender midweek question with a reading plan.

What goes in a church email newsletter?

One short email a week works for most churches: a recap of Sunday's sermon, a note from the pastor, the next two weeks of events and one next step. Keep each part short enough to skim on a phone.

  • A sermon recap is the one part worth sending every week: three or four points, the Scripture reference and a link to the recording.
  • Give each email one call to action, such as a link to RSVP, a reading plan or a prayer request form.
  • Sermon Uploads drafts a recap email, with a subject line and a short message, from your sermon video, typically in about 15 minutes.
  • You review it and send it from your own email tool. Church Media Kit does not send email.

A weekly email rhythm for a small team.

Three short emails, or just the first one. Pick the ones your volunteers can keep up all year.

  1. Sunday afternoon

    The recap

    In case you missed it: the main points, the Scripture and a link to the message. Send it while the sermon is fresh.

  2. Wednesday

    The midweek question

    One reflection question and a short reading from the passage. People reply with a prayer request.

  3. Friday

    This weekend

    Service times, the address, what kids' check-in looks like and one event to invite a friend to.

  4. Once a month

    The roundup

    A few lines on what God did this month, the next month's dates and one way to serve.

Church emails you can start from.

Sample emails for a fictional church, drawn for this page. Change the words and colors to your own and paste them into the email tool you use.

  • A sample recap email headed Keep asking with three bullet points, a Watch the message button and two events for the week.

    Sunday recap

  • A sample email with a yellow note from the pastor asking people to pray for one neighbor, and two events with a Reply to RSVP button.

    Pastor's note and events

  • A sample midweek email asking What are you still asking God for, with a three-day reading plan from Luke 11.

    Midweek question

What to put in a church newsletter.

Six things most church emails carry, each with the question to ask before you send it.

  • A sermon recap

    Can someone who missed Sunday catch up in a minute?

    Three or four points, the Scripture reference and a link to the recording. Do not paste the transcript into the email.

  • A note from the pastor

    Does it sound like one person talking to one person?

    A few sentences of encouragement build trust. Skip announcements in this part.

  • Dates with one link

    Does each event have a day, a time, a place and one way to sign up?

    A date with no link sends people to the office. List the next two weeks and point to your website for the rest.

  • A midweek next step

    What can a person do on Wednesday because of Sunday?

    A reading plan, a reflection question or a small challenge keeps the sermon alive after the weekend.

  • Prayer and praise

    Is there a simple way to reply?

    Ask for needs and for good news. A reply address works as well as a form.

  • A subject line that says what is inside

    Would you open it from the subject alone?

    A plain subject such as Recap: Keep asking beats a clever one. Put the date or the series name where people look first.

Get the recap drafted from your sermon.

Upload Sunday's video to Sermon Uploads and get a recap email draft, a subject line and a short message about the sermon, typically in about 15 minutes. Review it, copy it and send it from your own email tool. Your first upload is free.

See the recap emailSee Sermon Uploads
The Sermon Uploads recap email draft: the subject A faithful next step, a short message about the sermon, and Copy and Regenerate buttons.

Four ways to write the sermon recap.

Each works for some churches. The recap is the part that changes every week, so it is where the time goes.

Ways to write a church sermon recap email compared
Write it by handA newsletter templateA general writing assistantSermon Uploads
Starts fromYour sermon notes or the recordingA ready layout in your email toolA transcript you paste inThe sermon video you upload
Who does the workA staff member or volunteerYou fill in the sections each weekYou prompt it and check every lineYou review the draft and send it
Your church’s lookYour own words and layoutSet once in the templateVaries with each promptPlain text you paste into your email tool
Best whenOne person knows the sermon well and has the timeYou want the same look every weekYou are comfortable checking the output against the sermonYou want a draft that follows what was preached

Sermon Uploads writes the recap text only, from your sermon video. It does not make a newsletter layout or send email.

Frequently asked questions

Sunday's recap, ready to send.

Upload the sermon, review the draft and send it from your own email tool.

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