TN93 And now for the notices

These notes were first published on this website in April 2016 and last updated in February 2024

Synopsis

Spoken announcements in church services need to be chosen with care and spoken with skill.

1. Spoken notices are different from those that are printed.
2. People want news about people more than information about events.
3. Spoken notices are part of the worship, not a TV advertisement break.
4. There are many possibilities.

There are ten further pieces of advice for how to give out a notice well.

1. Clarify the headline
2. Know why you want to communicate it
3. Identify who it's for
4. Check the timing
5. Anticipate the likely blockages
6. Pay attention to how you appear
7. Check you are the right person
8. Surprise people
9. Watch the feedback
10. Cover those missing.

These notes were updated in February 2024 with minor amendments to the text.