Published . Updated .
Churches use digital signs outside to share service and mass times, events and a welcome with everyone who walks or drives past, and inside to show hymn numbers, lyrics, readings and notices.
The church sign has always been one of the main ways to reach the neighbourhood. A digital sign does that job better, because the message can change with the week: service times on Monday, a working bee on Thursday, a word of comfort on Sunday night. Inside, screens help everyone follow the service. Here is how churches use digital signs, inside and out.
Inside the church and hall
- Services. Show hymn numbers and lyrics, readings and prayers, and images to go with the sermon, so people at the back can follow as easily as those at the front.
- Weddings, baptisms and confirmations. Show photos and video so everyone feels part of the day.
- Before the service. Early arrivals are a ready audience for notices, news and upcoming events.
- Less printing. Put the order of service on screen and print fewer copies. When the hymn books wear out, show the words instead of buying more.
Outside, for the wider community
An outdoor sign speaks to everyone who walks or drives past, day and night, including people who have never been inside. Churches use them for:
- service and mass times
- Easter and Christmas services
- a welcome for newcomers
- events, fetes and fundraisers
- community notices, such as where to find shelter during a heatwave or storm
- a thought or a verse for the week
You can set the sign to change at any time of day or night, as often as you like. It is a simple way to show the character of your church to the whole street.
How can a sign help with fundraising?
Churches rely on donations, large and small, and a digital sign helps people see why their gift matters. Ideas that work:
- Tell the story. Photos or a short video about what past appeals have paid for show people the difference their money makes.
- Show progress. A running total of how much has been raised, and how much is still to go, gives people a reason to give now. A countdown to the last day of an appeal does the same.
- Ask for volunteers. A short, warm message such as “We need you” or “Get involved”, with a photo from last year’s event, can bring in new helpers.
- Make giving easy. A QR code on screen takes people straight to your giving page while the appeal is fresh in their mind.
- Say thank you. Thank donors and volunteers on screen, with their permission.
Giving often comes from the wider community as well as the congregation, so put your appeals on the outdoor sign as well as the screens inside.
What kind of sign does a church need?
- Single colour signs suit service times, notices and a verse for the week, and keep the cost down.
- Full colour signs add photos and video, so an appeal, a youth night or a Christmas service looks as warm as it feels.
- Double-sided signs suit churches on a main road, so traffic in both directions sees the message.
- Indoor screens for the church or hall can be very thin. Our FA3 wall screens are 42 mm panels that mount straight onto a wall.
If your church is in a residential street or on a heritage listed site, a new digital sign usually needs council approval. Our town planning service helps with the application at no extra cost. See our guide to council approval for LED signs.
Fetes, fairs and open days
For a fete or a community day, a hire sign by the road tells passing traffic what is on and where to park. We hire portable and solar trailer signs anywhere in Australia, from half a day to months. See LED sign hire.
Can volunteers run a church sign?
Church signs are often looked after by volunteers, so the sign has to be simple. Ours are updated from a phone, tablet or laptop, and messages can be scheduled weeks ahead. We install the sign and show your team how it works. Our church projects include a sign for an Adventist church, which you can see in our projects.
Many of the same ideas work for councils and community groups. See digital signs for council events and notices.
See LED signs for churches, with options for outdoor signs and indoor screens. You can buy, hire or finance a sign. Get in touch, or call Aaron on 0416 053 335 or the office on (08) 9335 7944.
