The Church Herald: Every Household Subscription Plan

Sample bulletin or newsletter announcements

There are three categories of announcements:

for churches promoting an every household subscription plan,

for churches trying to increase their every household plan numbers, and
for churches encouraging individuals to subscribe to the magazine.

Please copy or adapt any of the following announcements for use in your next bulletin or newsletter:

For churches promoting an every household subscription plan:

In 2008, the leadership of the church has been happy to supply members of our congregation with the Church Herald, the magazine of the Reformed Church. In the past months, the magazine has included news about denominational mission work in Sudan, the Dominican Republic, and China. There have been stores of local church ministries involving the arts, justice issues, and community outreach. The magazine consistently includes information about denominational programs, in addition to providing inspiring stories that help readers in their daily walk with God.

Through our church plan, the cost of each subscription is $15 ($17.50 CDN) per year, which is a bargain for a discipleship resource that comes to members’ homes 11 times annually. As we look ahead to next year’s budget, this will result in a total of [fill in your number here]. We look forward to providing subscriptions again in 2009.

Why does our church subscribe to the Church Herald on behalf of our members?

To connect us to the larger church
To provide Christian literature to each family
To assist members in becoming stronger disciples
To inspire people to new levels of ministry
To provide a place for conversation with other Christians
To remind people that they are part of God’s world, and loved by him

Does anyone read the Church Herald?
Research indicates that the majority of recipients read at least a portion of the magazine. But they can’t read it if they don’t receive it.

Isn’t it terribly expensive?
For our Every Household plan, the cost is just $15 ($17.50 CDN) per subscription annually—$1.25 ($1.46 CDN) per month.

For churches trying to increase their every household plan numbers:

Our congregation supplies Church Herald subscriptions to all members who request it. The Herald provides members of the Reformed Church with news and information about the work of the church globally and locally while also providing support and inspiration to individuals on their spiritual journeys.

The cost of this award-winning magazine is $15 ($17.50 CDN) annually when people subscribe through the church. Magazines are mailed to homes. If you’re not currently receiving the magazine but would like to, please contact [include your contact information here].

Connect with other Christians while learning more about the church to which you belong. Subscribe to the Church Herald, the magazine serving members of the Reformed Church in America. Our church provides subscriptions for members that request it. For more information on the magazine, visit herald.rca.org. To subscribe through our church’s subscription plan, contact [include contact information here].

Are you interested in the Church Herald? Our congregation provides subscriptions for members who request it. The Church Herald magazine serves members of the Reformed Church, helping them to understand their faith in today’s world and giving insights into the work and witness of the church locally and globally. If you’d like a subscription, sign up by contacting [include contact information here].

For churches encouraging individuals to subscribe to the magazine:

Until December of 2007, the Church Herald was mailed to homes as a benefit of membership in this church. Since distribution switched to a subscription plan, only a fraction* of homes are receiving the Church Herald. Only a few families are now receiving this magazine that:

Encourages spiritual growth and discipleship,
Provides a forum to discuss issues important to Christians,
Promotes programs and missions of the RCA, and
Connects RCA members to one another, sharing news and ideas for ministry.

A brief video on the Church Herald web site (herald.rca.org) provides information on the benefits of subscribing to the Church Herald as a congregation or as an individual. You can subscribe on line, or use the subscription card provided in today’s bulletin.

*The Church Herald can provide actual numbers and percentages upon request.

For the past 15 years, the Church Herald, the denominational magazine of the Reformed Church in America, has been provided for all members. For 2008, that distribution plan has been discontinued, leaving it up to congregations or individuals to subscribe.

Our church has decided not to organize an all-member subscription plan to the Church Herald, but you can continue to receive the magazine. Simply contact the Church Herald by phone (616-698-7071, x222) or e-mail (herald@rca.org) or subscribe online at http://herald.rca.org/. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to stay connected to the larger church.

Interested in keeping up with news and information regarding the Reformed Church? Subscribe to the Church Herald. We encourage you to contact the Church Herald by phone (616-698-7071, x222) or e-mail (herald@rca.org) or subscribe online at http://herald.rca.org/.

Feed your soul and support an RCA ministry: Subscribe to the Church Herald, the magazine of the Reformed Church in America. Receive support for your life as a Christian, be inspired with ideas for ministry, and connect to the global church. For 175 years the Church Herald has been publishing the good news, and your subscription allows this important ministry to continue. Contact the Church Herald by phone (616-698-7071, x222) or e-mail (herald@rca.org) or subscribe online at http://herald.rca.org/.

Our congregation is weighing its options about providing Church Herald subscriptions to members at a discounted rate. Congregations can subscribe on behalf of members at almost half the individual subscription rate. If you're interested in receiving this monthly publication in your home, please contact the church office.