Communications Configuration

As the communications systems are either very ridged or very loose at this church it makes it tough to implement tools like email distribution lists, web site and configure things like the phone system.  Sometimes there are very ridged lines and committee/s oversight that only a few people know about, other times it is adhoc or the Vestry who oversee but they only meet once per month normally.  In developing a communications plan and simplifying the process for certain things like approving use of Church facilities by groups inside the church --  we need an online system that can function and handle facilities scheduling.

I created an org chart to try and make sure organizations fell under the right hierarchy but really need to have it blessed and get some additional feedback so I can help make sure I configure things to help facilitate better communications.

I did create a distribution "Action List" that send to the Vestry Ex-Com, Judy and for the short term myself so that we can clear out and take to a point of resolution long standing complaints/issues/ideas people in the church have so we can track them to resolution which in many cases will be the "why" we can't or are not able to move forward but in an official response.  My hope is that this will help clear the deck of baggage so that we can help people begin to move forward.

Holy Week Info

http://www.crivoice.org/cyholyweek.html

The Days of Holy Week

Dennis Bratcher

 Palm/Passion Sunday  Maundy Thursday  Good Friday  Holy Saturday

Holy Week is the last week of Lent, the week immediately preceding Easter or Resurrection Sunday.  It is observed in many Christian churches as a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship. While some church traditions focus specifically on the events of the last week of Jesus’ life, many of the liturgies symbolize larger themes that marked Jesus’ entire ministry. Observances during this week range from daily liturgical services in churches to informal meetings in homes to participate in a Christian version of the Passover Seder.

In Catholic tradition, the conclusion to the week is called the Easter Triduum (a triduum is a space of three days usually accompanying a church festival or holy days that are devoted to special prayer and observance). Some liturgical traditions, such as Lutherans, simply refer to "The Three Days."  The Easter Triduum begins Thursday evening of Holy Week with Eucharist and concludes with evening prayers Easter Sunday.

Increasingly, evangelical churches that have tended to look with suspicion on traditional "High-Church" observances of Holy Week are now realizing the value of Holy Week services, especially on Good Friday (see Low Church and High Church). This has a solid theological basis both in Scripture and in the traditions of the Faith. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian who was executed by the Nazis, wrote of the Cost of Discipleship and warned of "cheap grace" that did not take seriously either the gravity of sin or the radical call to servanthood: "When Jesus bids a man come, he bids him come and die."

It is this dimension that is well served by Holy Week observances, as they call us to move behind the joyful celebrations of Palm Sunday and Easter, and focus on the suffering, humiliation, and death that is part of Holy Week. It is important to place the hope of the Resurrection, the promise of newness and life, against the background of death and endings. It is only in walking through the shadows and darkness of Holy Week and Good Friday, only in realizing the horror and magnitude of sin and  its consequences in the world incarnated in the dying Jesus on the cross, only in contemplating the ending and despair that the disciples felt on Holy Saturday, that we can truly understand the light and hope of Sunday morning!

In observing this truth, that new beginnings come from endings, many people are able to draw a parable of their own lives and faith journey from the observances of Holy Week. In providing people with the opportunity to experience this truth in liturgy and symbol, the services become a powerful proclamation of the transformative power of the Gospel, and God at work in the lives of people.

The entire week between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday is included in Holy Week, and some church traditions have daily services during the week. However, usually only Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday are times of special observance in most churches.

Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday)

Holy Week begins with the sixth Sunday in Lent.  This Sunday observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds who were in Jerusalem for Passover waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king. The Gospels tell us that Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, enacting the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, and in so doing emphasized the humility that was to characterize the Kingdom he proclaimed. The irony of his acceptance as the new Davidic King (Mark 11:10) by the crowds who would only five days later cry for his execution should be a sobering reminder of the human tendency to want God on our own terms.

Traditionally, worshippers enact the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem by the waving of palm branches and singing songs of celebration. Sometimes this is accompanied by a processional into the church.  In many churches, children are an integral part of this service since they enjoy processions and activity as a part of worship. This provides a good opportunity to involve them in the worship life of the community of Faith. In many more liturgical churches, children are encouraged to craft palm leaves that were used for the Sunday processional into crosses to help make the connection between the celebration of Palm Sunday and the impending events of Holy Week.

This Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday to commemorate the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus’ final agonizing journey to the cross.  The English word passion comes from a Latin word that means "to suffer," the same word from which we derive the English word patient.

In most Protestant traditions, the liturgical color for The Season of Lent is purple, and that color is used until Easter Sunday. In Catholic tradition (and some others), the colors are changed to Red for Palm Sunday. Red is the color of the church, used for Pentecost as well as remembering the martyrs of the church. Since it symbolizes shed blood, it is also used on Palm Sunday to symbolize the death of Jesus. While most Protestants celebrate the Sunday before Easter as Palm Sunday, in Catholic and other church traditions it is also celebrated as Passion Sunday anticipating the impending death of Jesus. In some Church traditions (Anglican), the church colors are changed to red for thefifth Sunday in Lent, with the last two Sundays in Lent observed as Passiontide.

Increasingly, many churches are incorporating an emphasis on the Passion of Jesus into services on Palm Sunday as a way to balance the celebration of Easter Sunday.  Rather than having the two Sundays both focus on triumph, Passion Sunday is presented as a time to reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus in a Sunday service of worship. This provides an opportunity for people who do not or cannot attend a Good Friday Service to experience the contrast of Jesus’ death and the Resurrection, rather than celebrating the Resurrection in isolation from Jesus’ suffering. However, since Sunday services are always celebrations of the Resurrection of Jesus during the entire year, even an emphasis on the Passion of Jesus on this Sunday should not be mournful or end on a negative note, as do most Good Friday Services (which is the reason Eucharist or Communion is not normally celebrated on Good Friday).

Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday

There are a variety of events that are clustered on this last day before Jesus was arrested that are commemorated in various ways in services of worship. These include the last meal together, which was probably a Passover meal, the institution of Eucharist or Communion, the betrayal by Judas (because of the exchange with Jesus at the meal), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while the disciples fell asleep. Most liturgies, however, focus on the meal and communion as a way to commemorate this day.

During the last few days, Jesus and His disciples had steadily journeyed from Galilee toward Jerusalem. On the sunlight hillsides of Galilee, Jesus was popular, the crowds were friendly and the future was bright. Even his entry into Jerusalem had been marked by a joyous welcome. But in Jerusalem there was a growing darkness as the crowds began to draw back from the man who spoke of commitment and servanthood. There was an ominous tone in the murmuring of the Sadducees and Pharisees who were threatened by the new future Jesus proclaimed.

Even as Jesus and his disciples came together to share this meal, they already stood in the shadow of the cross. It was later that night, after the meal, as Jesus and His disciples were praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, that Jesus was arrested and taken to the house of Caiaphas the High Priest. On Friday He would die.

There is some difference in the chronology of these events between the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and John’s account (see Synoptic Problem). In the Synoptics, this last meal was a Passover meal, observing the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt when death "passed over" the Hebrew homes as the tenth plague fell upon the Egyptians. Yet, in John’s account the Passover would not be celebrated until the next day. And while the Synoptics recount the institution of Communion (Eucharist) during this final meal, John instead tells us about Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet as a sign of servanthood.

In any case, this Thursday of Holy Week is remembered as the time Jesus ate a final meal together with the men who had followed him for so long. We do not have to solve these historical questions to remember and celebrate in worship what Jesus did and taught and modeled for us here, what God was doing in Jesus the Christ. And the questions should not shift our attention from the real focus of the story: the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Traditionally in the Christian Church, this day is known as Maundy Thursday. The term Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (from which we get our English word mandate), from a verb that means "to give," "to entrust," or "to order." The term is usually translated "commandment," from John's account of this Thursday night.  According to the Fourth Gospel, as Jesus and the Disciples were eating their final meal together before Jesus’ arrest, he washed the disciples' feet to illustrate humility and the spirit of servanthood. After they had finished the meal, as they walked into the night toward Gethsemane, Jesus taught his disciples a "new" commandment that was not really new (John 13:34-35):

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

The colors for Maundy Thursday are usually the colors of Lent, royal purple or red violet. Some traditions, however, use red for Maundy Thursday, the color of the church, in order to identify with the community of disciples that followed Jesus. Along the same line, some use this day to honor the apostles who were commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.

The sharing of the Eucharist, or sacrament of thanksgiving, on Maundy Thursday is the means by which most Christians observe this day. There is a great variety in exactly how the service is conducted, however. In some churches, it is traditional for the pastor or priest to wash the feet of members of the congregation as part of the service (John 13:3-15). Increasingly, churches are observing some form of the Passover Seder as a setting for the Eucharist of Maundy Thursday (see Introduction to a Christian Seder and Haggadah for a Christian Seder). Some churches simply have a "pot-luck" dinner together concluded with a short time of singing and communion.

In some church traditions all of the altar coverings and decorations are removed after the Eucharist is served on Maundy Thursday. Psalm 22 is sometimes either read or sung while the altar paraments are being removed. Since the altar in these traditions symbolize the Christ, the "stripping of the altar" symbolizes the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples and the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers prior to his crucifixion.  This, like the darkness often incorporated into a Good Friday service, represents the humiliation of Jesus and the consequences of sin as a preparation for the celebration of new life and hope that is to come on Resurrection Day.  Some churches only leave the altar bare until the Good Friday Service, when the normal coverings are replaced with black.

However it is celebrated, the Eucharist of Maundy Thursday is especially tied to the theme of remembering. As Jesus and his disciples followed the instructions in the Torah to remember God’s acts of deliverance in their history as they shared the Passover meal together, so Jesus calls us to remember the new act of deliverance in our history that unfolds on these last days of Holy week (see Remember! A Service of Communion).

Good Friday, or Holy Friday

Friday of Holy Week has been traditionally been called Good Friday or Holy Friday. On this day, the church commemorates Jesus’ arrest (since by Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown it was already Friday), his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial. Since services on this day are to observe Jesus’ death, and since Eucharist is a celebration, there is traditionally no Communion observed on Good Friday. Also, depending on how the services are conducted on this day, all pictures, statutes, and the cross are covered in mourning black, the chancel and altar coverings are replaced with black, and altar candles are extinguished.  They are left this way through Saturday, but are always replaced with white before sunrise on Sunday.

There are a variety of services of worship for Good Friday, all aimed at allowing worshippers to experience some sense of the pain, humiliation, and ending in the journey to the cross. The traditional Catholic service for Good Friday was held in mid-afternoon to correspond to the final words of Jesus from the cross (around 3 PM, Matt 27:46-50). However, modern schedules have led many churches to move the service to the evening to allow more people to participate. Usually, a Good Friday service is a series of Scripture readings, a short homily, and a time of meditation and prayer.  One traditional use of Scripture is to base the homily or devotional on theSeven Last Words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel traditions.

Father, forgive them . . . (Luke 23:34)
This day you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)
Woman, behold your son . . .(John 19:26-27)
My God, my God . . . (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)
I thirst.  (John 19:28)
It is finished! (John 19:30)
Father into your hands . . . (Luke 23:46)

Some churches use the Stations of the Cross as part of the Good Friday Service. This service uses paintings or banners to represent various scenes from Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, trial, and death, and the worshippers move to the various stations to sing hymns or pray as the story is told . There is a great variety in how this service is conducted, and various traditions use different numbers of stations to tell the story (see The Fourteen Stations of the Cross).

Another common service for Good Friday is Tenebrae (Latin for "shadows" or "darkness"). Sometimes this term is applied generally to all church services on the last three days of Holy week. More specifically, however, it is used of the Service of Darkness or Service of Shadows, usually held in the evening of Good Friday. Again, there are varieties of this service, but it is usually characterized by a series of Scripture readings and meditation done in stages while lights and/or candles are gradually extinguished to symbolize the growing darkness not only of Jesus’ death but of hopelessness in the world without God. The service ends in darkness, sometimes with a final candle, the Christ candle, carried out of the sanctuary, symbolizing the death of Jesus. Often the service concludes with a loud noise symbolizing the closing of Jesus’ tomb (see The Empty Tomb). The worshippers then leave in silence to wait.

Some churches do observe communion on Good Friday. However, traditionally Eucharist is not served on Good Friday since it is a celebration of thanksgiving.  Good Friday is not a day of celebration but of mourning, both for the death of Jesus and for the sins of the world that his death represents. Yet, although Friday is a solemn time, it is not without its own joy. For while it is important to place the Resurrection against the darkness of Good Friday, likewise the somberness of Good Friday should always be seen with the hope of Resurrection Sunday. As the well- known sermon title vividly illustrates: "It’s Friday.  But Sunday’s a’comin’!"

Holy Saturday

This is the seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb. In the first three Gospel accounts this was the Jewish Sabbath, which provided appropriate symbolism of the seventh day rest. While some church traditions continue daily services on Saturday, there is no communion served on this day.

Some traditions suspend services and Scripture readings during the day on Saturday, to be resumed at the Easter Vigil after sundown Saturday. It is traditionally a day of quiet meditation as Christians contemplate the darkness of a world without a future and without hope apart from God and his grace.

It is also a time to remember family and the faithful who have died as we await the resurrection, or to honor the martyrs who have given their lives for the cause of Christ in the world.  While Good Friday is a traditional day of fasting, some also fast on Saturday as the climax of the season of Lent.  An ancient tradition dating to the first centuries of the church calls for no food of any kind to be eaten on Holy Saturday, or for 40 hours before sunrise on Sunday.  However it is observed, Holy Saturday has traditionally been a time of reflection and waiting, the time of weeping that lasts for the night while awaiting the joy that comes in the morning (Psa 30:5).

Book Trading Network

Trying to get kids reading in the city.  Honor system based lending and exchange/trade points at churches and other spots of books that have been "tagged" with a simple sticker that could be printed from any laser/inkjet.  So anyone could tag their own / favorite books and leave them at an exchange site or someplace out into the community (bus / bart / etc) with a tag saying you can return this to the nearest exchange site go to the web address.

Goal would be to have kids who may not have access to kids books and new kids books get them into their hands.   If they really loved a book they could keep it.  If they liked it they could be encouraged to write a message to the next reader and leave it inside (possibly on a bookmark).

A book I constantly use -- STICK, new book SWITCH

http://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-Survive-Others/dp/1400064287/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268093813&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Change-Things-When-Hard/dp/0385528752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268093831&sr=8-1

Sample Newcomers Info for Epis. Churches

www.edow.org/diocese/aboutus/expect.pdf

http://www.stlukesonthelake.org/visitors_and_newcomers

http://www.acswebnetworks.com/stlukesonthelake/article164329.htm

Elevate

Elevate

Potentially some good ideas here on messaging a separate fund that does needed work outside the operating budget. The progress bar is cool. The list of things they did/paid for is cool. Use of video on this is good.

Church Marketing 101 Book

The Book || The official website of Richard Reising

This "must read" (we're not just saying that--look at what others are saying below) is a handbook to building a contageous church. Whether you are a marketing guru or novice, you will find it inspiring, encouraging, and hopeful. It’s everything you’ve been secretly thinking about church since you’ve been at church, but it’s also the solutions that churches are needing. In this book, Richard breaks down marketing principles and brand strategy by offering fresh insight into what both creates and hinders church growth. Built on a strong biblical foundation, he reveals how small changes can have a big impact on growth. Strategic marketing can set your church apart, creating the momentum to change the life of your church and your community for eternity. Bottom line: it’s worth the read.  

More resources for Church Marketing

Three more sites to check out on Church Marketing

• ChurchCrunch.com
• ChurchMarketingSucks.com
• AnthonyCoppedge.com 

Checklist / Tips for 70+ things to consider in a church web site

http://www.internetevangelismday.com/church-site-tips.php

1. Most church websites are designed entirely for their members, or unwittingly exclude non-Christians because of their choice of language and content.
   More  | Extra
2. A good church site must communicate with three very different target groups:
   More  | Extra
3. This ‘three-way stretch’ is a challenge, but can be achieved.
   More  | Extra
4. Take time to consider the needs and viewpoints of non-Christians.
   More  | Extra
5. Avoid all ‘churchy’ jargon and ‘Christianese’ language throughout the site, especially on the homepage.
   More  | Extra
6. Non-Christians may have negative images of Christians: boring, killjoys, judgmental, etc.
   More  | Extra
7. Christian outreach often fails because Christians do ‘megaphone proclamation’ from behind the protecting walls of their ‘ghetto’.
   More  | 2
8. A primary task of the website is to convince non-Christians of these four things:
   More  | Extra
9. Do not think of your church site in isolation, merely as a stand-alone online brochure.
   More 
10. Church is people: the home page should have at least one photo of a church member. This is absolutely foundational to good communication, yet infrequently done.
    More 
11. Internal pages on the site can include photos of both outside and inside of the church building.
    More 
12. Include some ‘meet our members’ pages.
    More 
13. All links, page titles, and sub-headings should sound enticing.
    More 
14. If testimonies are used, they should be completely free of religious jargon, exaggeration and sentimentality.
    More  | Extra
15. Consider a ‘New to this site?’ visitors link on your homepage. This enables you to offer a particular welcome to an outsider.
    More  | Extra
16. Games and fun stuff are attractive and make a site sticky.
    More  | Extra1 | 2
17. Consider adding some ‘bridging’ pages to the site.
    More  | Extra1 | 2
18. Involve your church members in praying and supporting the web design team, and ‘owning’ the site.
    More 
19. Demonstrate a specific welcome for people with disability.
    More 
20. Summing up: the overall impression of the site must of a gentle, loving, enticing welcome. But...
    More 
21. Sadly, it is this issue of welcome and assimilation that frequently breaks down.
    More  | Extra1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
22. The context of your country, area and culture may lead you to apply these principles in different ways. Analyzehow some very effective church sites are using them: Brandywine | Southside | Bridge | King’s Church | Atlanta |North Branch | Questions
23. Church websites are not the only form of web evangelism.
    More  | Extra

    Design

24. Your church site will be the first point of contact for many people in your community. First impressions count.
    More  | Extra
25. Do not place too much information on your homepage.
    More 
26. And all important information should be ‘above the fold’.
    More 
27. Avoid ‘churchy’ graphics – open Bibles, stained glass windows, doves, candles. And appeals for money.
    More 
28. Use at least one graphic of a person’s face on the homepage.
    More 
29. A 3-column layout is often the most suitable for a church site.
    More 
30. Never use an introductory ‘splash page’.
    More 
31. Every page should display the same overall appearance, with the same navigation options in the same place.
    More  | Extra
32. All links, menu options and buttons should be clearly identified as ‘active’ – they should change color when hovered.
    More 
33. If you use Javascript for any effects, ensure everything on the site still works for those with Javascript disabled.
    More 
34. Don’t use frames for site design.
    More 
35. Learn how to use ‘include’ files – a great time-saver.
    More 
36. Also learn how to use CSS.
    More  | Extra
37. Use colors correctly: understand how to choose a color scheme, how colors relate to each other, and what mood they communicate.
    More  | Extra
38. Don’t use patterned graphic backgrounds behind body text.
    More 
39. Consider a ‘liquid’ page design: the content should flow naturally and fit together, at any screen resolution (i.e. size of the monitor screen measured in pixels) or reasonable font resize by a user.
    More 
40. And don’t put ‘best viewed at resolution’ or ‘best viewed in browser Y’ on your website.
    More 
41. Don’t include ‘mailto’ email addresses in plain coding on the site.
    More 
42. Your site need not be large or complex.
    More 
43. Don’t leave out-of-date content online.
    More 
44. Use several people to proof-read for typos and poor grammar.
    More  | Extra
45. Make your pages printer-friendly.
    More  | Extra
46. Take time to assess your target audience, their interests, needs and circumstances.
    More  | Extra
47. Not least, pray – both for planning and implementation.
    More  | Extra

    Your church webmaster/team

48. A church webmaster or team needs a clear job description.
    More The church should encourage the webmaster or web team in their back-room role.
49. What if there is no-one technical in your church, to take on the webmaster role? You can use a pre-designed template system. These also answer the problem of what to do if the only technical person in the church moves on, leaving a website that no-one really knows how to update. Follow ‘Extra’ for a listing of providers and how to assess the features they offer.
    More  | Extra
50. A larger church site can benefit from ‘CMS’ – Content Management which enables multiple users to keep the site updated.
    More  | Extra
51. Learn from others. Help is only a mouse-click away.
    More 

    Readability

52. For normal body text, use black font on a white or near-white background.
    More 
53. Do not used fixed font size in your coding.
    More 
54. Therefore make all font sizes relative, so that users can resize text if they wish.
    More 
55. Choice of fonts is important. The Verdana font is designed for computer monitors, and is widely perceived as the most readable for body text. (Note how upper-case I is distinguished from number 1 or lower-case l.) Test it yourself: view this page in helvetica | arial | default sans-serif | default serif | times new roman | restore verdana.
    More  | Extra
56. Understand how to make your site user-friendly to color-blind and visually-impaired visitors. color tester. More 

    Testing

57. Test your site from a technical viewpoint in different browsers, and at different screen resolutions.
    More 
58. Also test your site with real first-time users. Remember, you know your site backwards. They do not.
    More  | Extra
59. Find non-Christians to critique your site. Yes, non-Christians! They are your primary target audience.
    More 

    Navigation and usability

60. Good navigation allows a first-time non-technical visitor to move round your site easily.
    More 
61. Good navigation gives visitors constant clues to fulfill the vital requirements: ‘Where am I, where have I been, and where can I go’. Many websites, of all types, fail to be effective because they lack a good intuitive navigation system.
    More 
62. Do not offer too many links in your navigation menu.
    More 
63. You can use ‘paper prototyping’ to plan different ways of structuring links within the site.
    More  | Extra
64. Make sure your pages download quickly.
    More 

    Being found – online and physically

65. The title tag in the head of your homepage, which should contain the full name of the church, plus town, state and country.
    More  | Extra
66. Your church name, street, town, area/state, country and phone number should also appear in unabbreviated form in a small font in the footer of your homepage (or preferably every page).
    More 
67. Submit your church site to main search engines and secular directories.
    More  | Extra
68. Make every page of your site a logical entry point to your site.
    More 
69. Framed pages present problems to being listed in search engines.
    More 
70. Ensure the church URL is easy to remember. Take every opportunity to give it a high profile.
    More 
71. Make full use of press releases to local newspapers and radio stations. These should always include your URL. Larger churches can consider publishing regular news using an ‘RSS’ feed.
    More  | Extra1| 2
72. Include clear directions for finding the church. Give details of parking, public transport links, and a map.
    More 

    Responding to emails

73. Ensure that every day, someone reads incoming emails to the church.
    More 
74. Some people may be emailing for help on serious life issues.
    More  | Extra
75. It need not necessarily be the pastor or pastor’s secretary that does this, especially out of hours.
    More 

Join the Choir Sunday - Lift Every Voice & Sing

Concept that you can show up at 9:15, get on the robes and go through some practice time with the choir/music director. When service is over get your picture taken in the robes and let people share that with friends & family. We'd give tools to people i.e. email w/graphic to share that they could send to friends and family to invite them that sunday.

We could video or audio record the singing and post online so people could share that with friends.

We could do a gospel lunch/brunch if the response was good after the first time.

Would need to pick hymns/gospel songs that are widely known and in a normal key. Might encourage a few attendees to join the choir.

Distilled "How to Win Friends & Influence People"

Building Personal Relationships

• Never criticize, condemn or complain.
• Self-criticism is extremely rare. Your criticism won’t be welcome.
• Criticism makes others defensive and resentful.
• Positive Reinforcement works better.

• Become genuinely interested in other people.
• People are most interested in themselves.
• Remember people’s birthdays and other important details.

• Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
• Find the interests of others and talk about those things.
• If you know nothing of their interests, ask intelligent questions.

• Be a good listener.
• Give your exclusive attention to others.
• Urge others to talk about themselves. Ask pointed questions.

• Make the other person feel important.
• People yearn to feel important and appreciated.
• Praise others’ strengths and they’ll strive to reinforce your opinion.

• Use Names whenever possible.

• Smile.
• Greet others with smiles and enthusiasm.
• Smiling comes through even over the phone.

Selling your Ideas: Establish a Space for Cooperation

• Avoid arguments: you can only lose.
• Arguers will defend and embrace their previous positions.
• Even “winning” will hurt the loser’s pride and build resentment.
• A Guide to avoiding arguments:
  

  1. Welcome the disagreement.  Be thankful for a new opinion.
  2. Stay calm.
  3. Listen first. Hear your opponents out.
  4. Identify areas of agreement.
  5. Admitting errors will make it easier for others to admit theirs.
  6. If no resolution is found, postpone action and promise to explore the opposing perspective.

• Begin in a friendly way.
• Open conversation with sincere praise, appreciation and sympathy.
• A friendly tone will allow others to broach discussions more openly.

• Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
• Eagerly listen to concerns to diffuse tension and build relationships.
• Others need to finish spilling their ideas before listening to you.

• Be sympathetic.
• Most people hunger for sympathy.
• Tell them: “I’d feel the same way under those circumstances.”

• Respect others’ opinions. Never say, "You're wrong."
• People don’t like to admit they’re wrong and may take it personally.

• If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
• Demonstrate your willingness to rationally examine the facts.
• If another is about to criticize you, don’t let them start!
• A harsh self-rebuke may prompt the others to soften their critiques.
• Admitting errors clears guilt and everyone to move forward quickly.

• Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
• Another’s perspective and motivation is the key to understanding their decisions, agenda and personality.

• Frame requests in terms of what others find motivating.
• Ask yourself: “Why would someone want to do what I'm asking?”
• 
  

Selling your Ideas: Closing the Deal

• Get the other person saying "yes, yes" as soon as possible.
• Emphasize things all parties already agree on.
• You will build momentum toward acceptance.

• Dramatize your ideas.
• It helps to make a visual, visceral demonstration.

• Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
• People are more committed to their own ideas.
• Make suggestions and let others come to the desired conclusion.

• Appeal to the nobler motives.
• Appeal to ideals: a mother’s love, personal character, integrity, etc.

• Throw down a challenge.
• Stimulate competition among co-workers.
• Challenge someone’s capabilities/self-perceptions.

Leadership: Giving Criticism & Driving Improvement

• Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
• It is easier to take criticism after some praise.
• Look for things done well before calling attention to failings.

• Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
• The burden of criticism is easier to bear when shared.
• It’s motivating when another has overcome the same challenges.

• Call attention to people's errors indirectly.
• Direct, harsh criticism can destroy incentive to improve.
• Suggest alternatives: “How user-friendly will this feature will be?”
• Suggest that the idea isn’t flawed; it’s the environment or situation.

• Let the other person save face.
• Others will get defensive for fear of being embarrassed.
• Additionally, always try to give criticism in private.

• Make the fault seem easy to correct. Use encouragement.
• Make faults seem easy to correct and new skills easy to learn.

• Praise the slightest improvement and every improvement.
• Praise reinforces the development of a desired behavior.
• Make praise as specific as possible.

• Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
• Example: “You’re quite capable, but your recent projects aren’t up to your old standards.”
• Respecting others’ capabilities will empower them to succeed.

 

Leadership: Motivating Others

• Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
• Example: “Would it make sense to organize these alphabetically?”

• Try to make the other person happy about doing things you suggest.
• Make others feel too important for tasks you don’t want them to do.
• Give out titles and authority: make others happy contributors

• Step by Step Guide to movtivating others to do tasks:
  

  1. Be Sincere. Don't promise what you can't do or deliver.
  2. Know preciesly what it is you want the other person to do.
  3. Be Empathetic. Try to understand what others want.
  4. Focus on any benefits the other person might receive.
  5. Explain how those benefits match the other person's wants.
  6. Frame requests to communicate that the other person will personally benefit.

Church Specific Surveys

http://www.uscongregations.org/

Has US averages and denominational averages.  There is a cost but it is actually pretty minimal compared to the information gleaned. 

St. John's Oakland took the survey back in April 2009:

http://www.stjohnsoakland.org/sites/default/files/CongLifeSurvey4_09.pdf

Survey questions to expose feeling

One area we need to expose deeper issues and emotions / intensity in the next round of surveys.

Questions like if St. A's was a movie what would it be?

Essential Church

Essential Church

Good WordPress Church site

Critically Important Site to Read - Mystery Worshiper

Ship-of-Fools.com and their Mystery Worshiper survey is fantastic tool to read what others are doing well and where improvements can be made.  To give long time attendees of a church some insight to someone who is church shopping and what types of things worked or didn't work for them at a church.

Here are the review questions / categories they use:

Descriptive:

The church: Denomination:  The building:  The church:  The neighborhood:  The cast:  The date & time: Review: What was the name of the service? How full was the building? Did anyone welcome you personally? Was your pew comfortable? How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere? What were the exact opening words of the service? What books did the congregation use during the service? What musical instruments were played? Did anything distract you? Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what? Exactly how long was the sermon? On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher? In a nutshell, what was the sermon about? Which part of the service was like being in heaven? And which part was like being in... er... the other place? What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost? How would you describe the after-service coffee? How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)? Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian? What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?

Facebook Developers | Facebook Connect

Facebook Developers | Facebook Connect: "F"

Good data points on response rates for Facebook Apps/External site integration i.e.

Engagement

Social Comments

Add social comments to every piece of content.

1-2 hours

+15-20% comments +15-20% registered users

C3HWiki - ChurchManagementSystem

C3HWiki - ChurchManagementSystem

Another good site reviewing/commenting on ChMS and other technology issues for churches. In this case it is primarily Unitarian Church IT related discussion of the tech they use/recommend.

Google Apps for Non-Profits is and that link is in there as well.

Bringing Sermons Podcast (audio only) back soon

Sermons were top ranked in satisfaction in a recent survey -- so developing a workable process to try and get them back to the web with minimal user/volunteer involvement is a top priority.  Since they are a strength then we need to find ways to include and emphasize it when marketing St. A's.

Unfortunately video taping and editing video is time intensive and requires equipment, the files, software, high speed internet to upload.  So it is not one of the things you can easily hand off from one person to another.  So just looking to restart the audio podcast for the time being and consider video for more static areas of the website.

A member has donated a Sony digital recorder and I have it to test/play with but need the software (PC Only) apparently to get the file off and trim.  I can definitely commit to doing this but it is possible there would be a lag between service and posting.

The video versions worked well for getting them out on Facebook (they don't host audio clips) though their 20 minute limit tended to cause me hassle to take all of Ed's work and trim start/stop or cut a sermon into 2 pieces to get it under the limit.  Unfortunately, either FB or I then left weird artifacting when I tried to recompress.

So unless I do an iMovie and create some standard animation/slideshow to go with the audio FB is out for a while longer as well.  I'm hoping I can come up with something that could stand in and allow me to get them up on FB.

Using Pentecost Sunday as a Re-Welcoming Day / Second Push

Besides an early target for using Holy Week for potential kick start to welcoming efforts the next major day in the church Calendar we could sync up and do a second outreach using the lessons learned would be Pentecost.

Pentecost (May 23rd) could be our big push to get Welcoming done right and do a real marketing campaign with follow-up survey.  Format could be to focus on that Family Reunion, Re-welcoming / Revitalizing the Church / Raise the Spirits.  Not sure if we ar near any specific anniversary year or not but that too could be a theme/message.

Host a mixer...

One good source of People to introduce St. A's to would be to hold a mixer to new residents of Oakland i.e. focus marketing and outreach to downtown and condos.  Would not be a religious service but more a chance to get people together and do it in the Church Hall to get them familiar with St. A's.  We could then market our selves to them one-on-one.  Find  a Friend ala speed-dating?  Jerusha might have good ideas.

Starting a Facebook group and getting some newspaper coverage would be required to be successful.  Could then be repeated Quarterly.