Zulip Guide

Getting Started with Zulip

Welcome to our worship ministry team's communication hub! Zulip is a team chat app that keeps our conversations organized using channels and topics especially useful when multiple conversations happen at once.

How to Join

To join our Zulip workspace, contact the worship leader to receive an invite link. Once you click the link, you'll create your account and be automatically added to our default channels.

Our Zulip URL: mfc.zulipchat.com — bookmark this for easy access!

Understanding Channels & Topics

Zulip organizes conversations differently than other chat apps. Think of it like this:

Channels are like rooms or categories (similar to Slack channels)
Topics are conversation threads within those channels (like email subject lines)

This structure means you can catch up on specific conversations without scrolling through everything.

Our Team Channels

Channel	Who Can Post Topics	Who Can Reply	Purpose
#announcements	Admins only	—	Important updates, schedule changes, event info
#general	Anyone	Anyone	General team chat, questions, fellowship
#set-notes	Admins only	Anyone	Notes for each worship set—song details, arrangements, cues
#prayer-requests	Anyone	Anyone	Share and respond to prayer needs (monthly prompt included)

Getting Set Up

1. Download the Apps

Zulip works on all devices:

Desktop: zulip.com/apps (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Mobile: Search "Zulip" in the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android)
Web: Access directly in your browser

Tip: Start with the web or desktop app to set up your account, then add mobile for notifications on the go.

2. Set Up Your Profile

Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top right
Select Personal settings
Click Profile on the left
Add a profile picture (helps the team recognize you!)
Fill in your name and any other details

3. Configure Notifications

Getting notifications right is key as you want to know about important messages without being overwhelmed.

Recommended settings for ministry team members:

Click the gear icon → Personal settings → Notifications
For DMs, mentions, and alerts: Enable Desktop and Mobile
For Channels: Consider enabling notifications for #announcements and #set-notes
Under Mobile message notifications: Toggle "Send mobile notifications even if I'm online" if you really want to be notified

On your phone:

Open the Zulip app
Tap your profile picture (bottom right)
Tap Settings → Notifications
Enable the notifications you want

How to Read Messages

Finding Unread Conversations

Inbox View (recommended for catching up):

Click Inbox in the left sidebar (or press Shift + I)
Shows all conversations with unread messages
Click any conversation to read it

Recent Conversations:

Click Recent conversations in the left sidebar (or press T)
Great for seeing what's been discussed lately

Reading a Conversation

Click on a topic to open it
Scroll through messages
When done, click Inbox to return to your unread list

Keyboard shortcut: Press N to jump to the next unread topic.

How to Send Messages

Replying to an Existing Topic

Open the conversation you want to reply to
Click the Message... box at the bottom
Type your message
Click Send or press Enter (depending on your settings)

Starting a New Topic

When you have something new to discuss, start a new topic rather than adding to an unrelated conversation.

Click the + new topic icon next to a channel name, OR
Click Start new conversation at the bottom of the app
Choose the channel (e.g., #general)
Enter a topic name—keep it brief but specific
- ✅ Good: "Sunday 1/21 set list question" or "New song suggestion"
- ❌ Avoid: "Question" or "Help"
Type your message and send

Don't stress about perfect topic names! The first few words that come to mind work fine, and topics can be renamed later.

Sending a Direct Message (DM)

For private conversations:

Click the + new DM icon next to "Direct messages" in the left sidebar
Type the person's name and select them
Write your message and send

Helpful Features for Our Team

@Mentions

Get someone's attention by mentioning them:

@name — notifies a specific person
@all or @everyone — notifies everyone in the channel (use sparingly!)

Emoji Reactions 👍

React to messages without cluttering the conversation:

Hover over a message and click the smiley face icon
Great for quick acknowledgments like "Got it!" or "Praying!"

Formatting Your Messages

Zulip supports Markdown formatting:

Format	How to Type	Result
Bold	`text`	text
Italic	`text`	text
Bulleted list	`- item`	• item
Code/chords	`Am - G - C`	`Am - G - C`

Drag and drop files directly into the compose box, or click the paperclip icon. Great for:

Sheet music PDFs
Chord charts
Audio/video clips

Polls

Create quick polls for scheduling or decisions:

Type /poll followed by your question
Add options on separate lines

Tips for Our Worship Team

Check #announcements regularly — This is where schedule changes and important updates go.
Use #set-notes for service prep — Each week's set will have its own topic. Reply with questions about arrangements, transitions, or cues.
#prayer-requests is confidential to our team — Share freely and support each other. A monthly prompt will remind us to share.
Start new topics freely — It's better to have many specific topics than one long confusing thread.
Reply in context — Respond within the relevant topic so everyone can follow the conversation history.
Catch up at your own pace — Unlike other chat apps, Zulip's threading means you won't miss important context even if you're a few days behind.

Quick Reference: Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Shift + I`	Open Inbox
`T`	Recent conversations
`N`	Next unread topic
`R` or `Enter`	Reply to selected message
`C`	Compose new topic in current channel
`X`	New direct message
`/`	Search

Need Help?

Zulip URL: mfc.zulipchat.com
For Zulip questions: Ask in #general or DM the worship leader
For technical issues: Check Zulip's Help Center
Lost your invite?: Contact the worship leader for a new link

Last updated: January 2026