Hosting events at your church is a great way to engage, enlighten, welcome and get to know your church community, and a church event invitation letter is a great way to spread the word. Depending on the situation and people you are inviting, you can use formal invitation letters to invite a person or group to the event or you can send something more casual. Either way, it’s helpful to send invitation letters to describe the event and the details clearly.
But creating a new invitation for every event can be time-consuming. Read on for guidance on how to write an invitation letter for a church event. You do not need to reinvent the wheel with invitation letters for your church events—your church staff can use our templates and enter the specifics of your event to create them quickly and easily.
Table of Contents
- Why Send a Church Event Invitation Letter?
- How to Write an Invitation Letter for a Church Event
- Church Event Invitation Letter Templates
- Get the Free Church Event Kit
Why Send a Church Event Invitation Letter?
Sending a church event invitation letter ensures that your communication is clear and welcoming. It provides all the details about your event so people know when, where and how to attend the event. It also can explain the reason for the event and help you generate interest and enthusiasm.
How to Write an Invitation Letter for a Church Event
When it comes to learning how to write an invitation letter for a church event, it's all about the details...
You should always start the letter by letting your community know what's going on. Whether each person is at mass every week or they only come by once in a while, it's important to fill them in on why you're holding an event. Opening your church event invitation this way appeals to readers and draws them in. Everyone likes a bit of news, so try and excite your community members as much as possible with your intro.
Once you draw them in, tell them about the event that's happening. Include a backstory for the event and let them know what to expect if they decide to attend. The more information you can provide, the more likely it is that you'll convince them to come.
1) Give Them the Event Details
Once you describe why the event is happening and what it entails, give them the details. Include a date, time and location so everyone can plan around your event. If it's a church fundraiser or you need them to RSVP, be sure to mention this and provide the date you need them to RSVP by.
Do not give away too much information in your invitation, but if you know what kind of activities will be going on during the event, you can describe them in the body of the letter. If there are any particular details that you think will increase attendance, definitely include them!
2) Make a Church Event Invitation Letter Personal
When you finish the letter, express how much you want the person to attend the event. Always give your church event invitation letters a personal touch, because they are personal to the people receiving the letter. If they really feel like you value their attendance, they will make an effort to attend.
As you sign off, give your name and contact information at the church, letting the recipients know that if they have any questions about the event, they can contact you directly.
3) Keep It Short
It's easy to get carried away when writing invitation letters, but there's a lot to be said for keeping them short and sweet. These days, you only have people's attention for a few seconds before they lose interest in what you are saying.
Say what you need to say in as few words as possible. Keeping your letter focused on the pertinent details is your best bet for getting the largest number of attendees.
4) Proofread It Before Sending
When writing an invitation letter for a church event, one of the most important rules of thumb is proofreading. Whether you look over the letter a few times yourself or have a church volunteer do it, making sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors is essential.
You want potential attendees to take your church event seriously, so the invitation should be as professional as possible. Get as many eyes on it as you can before you send it out.
Church Event Invitation Letter Templates
Creating a church event invitation letter is much easier if you do not have to start from scratch for each event. That’s why we created three free templates you can use as a starting point. Review the samples below, select the best one for your situation and adjust it to fit your event details.
Church Event Invitation Template for Honored Guests
Here is an example of a letter you can send to invitees who will be honored guests:
[Date]
[Recipient's Name]
[Recipient's Address]
Dear [Recipient's Name],
We are honored to invite you to the [event name] at our church. This event will [description and purpose of event]. It will be held on [date] at [time] in [location].
We invite you to be our special guest and speak to our congregation. Your experience and knowledge are valued by our members, and we hope to be lucky enough to have you speak at the [event name].
We are excited for you to potentially attend our event and want to extend the invitation to your family as well. Please RSVP by [date] to [name of the person receiving RSVP] at [contact person's phone number and/or email]. They will be able to provide you with more information about the event.
Yours in Christ,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
Church Event Invitation Template for New Churchgoers
Here’s a template that specifically focuses on churchgoers who are new to your church:
[Date]
[Recipient's Name]
[Recipient's Address]
Dear [Recipient's Name],
We are so happy you have chosen to spend time at our church. New members bring a unique energy and perspective to our congregation and help us grow in size and ideas.
On [date] we are holding a [event name] at [time and location] and would love if you and your family and/or other guests could join us. This event [describe the event] is especially for new members to help them to meet other members of our church and our church leaders.
Please RSVP by [date] to [name of the person receiving RSVP] at [contact person's phone number and/or email].
We hope to see you there!
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
Church Social Event Invitation Letter Template
If you are holding a social or fellowship event at your church and want to invite others, your letter can be a bit less formal. Consider who you are inviting to determine what type of letter you need.
To keep the invitation casual, you could consider sending it as an email, text message, or posting it on social media sites, such as Facebook or Instagram.
Hello [Name] Family!
We will be holding our [event name] on [date] at [time and location] and we’re excited to invite you and your family to attend.
Our event is a fun way for members of our congregation to socialize, meet others, and [describe the purpose of the event]. We would love it if you and your family could attend.
You can find more information about [event name] by contacting our office at [phone number and/or email] or by visiting our website at [web address].
We look forward to seeing you there!
[Church Leader(s) Name(s)]
You can use graphics or clip art to make more casual invitations eye-catching and fun.
Looking for More Helpful Tools for Church Events?
Running a church event and finding an effective event registration system is stressful for you and your volunteers. Get some help with our free Ultimate Church Event Kit. Download it now to access...
- Permission slip
- Event planning checklist
- Church event letter templates