I am a life-long church member, and love being involved in ministry. I have worked as a volunteer or on staff in a variety of different roles in churches throughout my life. My favorite verse about ministry is Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Thanks for the tips! Very helpful to get your ideas on how this will practically affect our Facebook presence.
I handle social media for both my ministry work and my other for-profit work. While I understand the need for Facebook to monetize, and don't mind it as much for the for-profit world, it's been frustrating to see that non-profits are treated the same as for-profit businesses when it comes to reduced visibility, even among people who have already opted in as fans by liking our page.
I was glad to find this post today in my search for some updated materials on Safe Church. The second bullet points mentions a "Safe Church Training Notebook" and I was able to find the place that has links to the power point presentations (here: http://www.crcna.org/SafeChurch/what-safe-church-ministry-team), and I also see there are lots of resources like previous bulletin inserts, worship resources, etc., but I'm just sort of wondering where to start with all of this as far as what we should have in our Safe Church Notebook?
Also, a second question, I see that there is a specific topic for this year's Abuse Awareness Sunday in September, but I think we might be in a place where we need to talk about this more generally this year, and was wondering what of the resources you might recommend to meet that need?
I found that I very much resonated with this comment: "It is to read a book for inspiration, not information." I have only VERY recently begun reading more non-fiction, Christian non-fiction that is, and have found myself inspired by the stories and words of others that so beautifully tell of God's faithfulness. I would add that it was not that long ago, in a season of feeling far from God, that I realized that contemporary voices of faith were drawing me back to God in unique ways I could not have anticipated. I've come to the conclusion that many writers, because of how their own stories weave into what they share, end up seeming to me as a kind of testimony, not unlike when someone I know personally shares a story of God in their life. Great topic and not just for pastors (which I am not.)
Some are autobiographies, but most are more general non-fiction. I am finding that what the author is teaching is often illustrated or the result of their own learning or life experiences, so is autobiographical in that way.
I'll play along. :) Admittedly, I have not been the best at actively posting to our page, but I did put up a new cover photo earlier this summer that I rather like. Feedback welcomed! https://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsCRC
Great suggestions and ideas. I rather like the cover photos that are a collage of images, a great way to show various facets of worship and church life.
I just wanted to add some additional tips about open -ended questions that were shared with me by a communications pro. The best open-ended questions start with the key question words: Who, What, When, Where, Why & How; and cannot be answered with a yes or no. (My favorites start with "Why" or "How.")
Thanks for sharing your comments. I attended just for the day Tuesday, and it was a wonderful experience. Taking a few minutes to read your story reminds me that today I should spend a few minutes remembering what I learned and thinking about how to make space for it to change my life.
Thank you for writing this. I've heard or read before about it being a mistake to consider deacons a "stepping stone" to the "more important" role of elder. Clearly, these two offices could be blessed by people with quite different sets of gifts and skills.
At our church, we are trying to be more intentional about identifying our gifts and then making a connection between giftedness and where we serve. I hope as we grow in this, leadership ministries will be just one of the areas in which we affirm God's gifts in each other and grow in serving in ways where our gifts can be greatly used.
We prepare a second version of the worship order for those who are involved in worship. It is basically the worship order as included int he bulletin for everyone, but with extra instructions for those leading worship. This is emailed out during the week to everyone who is serving on the upcoming Sunday, and copies of it are printed on green paper each week so all those involved can have a copy with the notes on it. It's not a perfect system, but it definitely helps keep us organized.
***** Here's just an example. From our bulletin *****
God Speaks to Us through His Word
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:15
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:3 – 19
Sermon Title: The Good Life: (8) You Shall Not Steal
We Respond to God’s Word
*Song of Response: Take My Life That It May Be (Hymn #289; v. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
Knowing You (All I Once Held Dear)
Offerings of Financial Blessings
***** The same section, from our "green sheet" (PT=Praise Team) *****
God Speaks to Us through His Word
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:15
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:3 – 19
Sermon Title: The Good Life: (8) You Shall Not Steal
[PT enter up stage steps, ready to go at amen]
We Respond to God’s Word
*Song of Response: Take My Life That It May Be (Hymn #289; v. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
[piano under reading of 2 Corinthians 9:6, 8 (beginning with God), 11]
I forgot to add one of our bigger challenges is that although we often have many people involved in worship each week, our Pastor often helps with the flow by making certain announcements. On weeks when he is not here, we do need to do more organizing: Who will announce the offering? Who will make this transition? Who will say "Please be seated"? Our format doesn't specifically call out those things because many times our pastor just does it.
Another thing is something like the reading of scripture between the two songs after the sermon. It's not assigned ahead, one of the Praise Team members will volunteer during rehearsal. It's a tossup between how much time we spend ahead of time, and how much we can handle more efficiently by making Sunday morning assignments, but sometimes Sunday mornings get a little harried when we realize we have extra details to arrange.
Posted in: New Forums - ‘Church Jobs’ and ‘Church Exchange’
This is a GREAT idea! Glad to see the Network expanding in this way.
Posted in: Facebook News Feed Changes: 3 Things to Consider
Thanks for the tips! Very helpful to get your ideas on how this will practically affect our Facebook presence.
I handle social media for both my ministry work and my other for-profit work. While I understand the need for Facebook to monetize, and don't mind it as much for the for-profit world, it's been frustrating to see that non-profits are treated the same as for-profit businesses when it comes to reduced visibility, even among people who have already opted in as fans by liking our page.
Posted in: Safe Church Ministry: News You Can Use
I was glad to find this post today in my search for some updated materials on Safe Church. The second bullet points mentions a "Safe Church Training Notebook" and I was able to find the place that has links to the power point presentations (here: http://www.crcna.org/SafeChurch/what-safe-church-ministry-team), and I also see there are lots of resources like previous bulletin inserts, worship resources, etc., but I'm just sort of wondering where to start with all of this as far as what we should have in our Safe Church Notebook?
Also, a second question, I see that there is a specific topic for this year's Abuse Awareness Sunday in September, but I think we might be in a place where we need to talk about this more generally this year, and was wondering what of the resources you might recommend to meet that need?
Posted in: Listening to God Through Reading
I found that I very much resonated with this comment: "It is to read a book for inspiration, not information." I have only VERY recently begun reading more non-fiction, Christian non-fiction that is, and have found myself inspired by the stories and words of others that so beautifully tell of God's faithfulness. I would add that it was not that long ago, in a season of feeling far from God, that I realized that contemporary voices of faith were drawing me back to God in unique ways I could not have anticipated. I've come to the conclusion that many writers, because of how their own stories weave into what they share, end up seeming to me as a kind of testimony, not unlike when someone I know personally shares a story of God in their life. Great topic and not just for pastors (which I am not.)
Posted in: Listening to God Through Reading
Some are autobiographies, but most are more general non-fiction. I am finding that what the author is teaching is often illustrated or the result of their own learning or life experiences, so is autobiographical in that way.
Posted in: Choosing A Facebook Cover Photo
I'll play along. :) Admittedly, I have not been the best at actively posting to our page, but I did put up a new cover photo earlier this summer that I rather like. Feedback welcomed! https://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsCRC
Great suggestions and ideas. I rather like the cover photos that are a collage of images, a great way to show various facets of worship and church life.
Posted in: Four Conversation Tips for Small Group Leaders
I just wanted to add some additional tips about open -ended questions that were shared with me by a communications pro. The best open-ended questions start with the key question words: Who, What, When, Where, Why & How; and cannot be answered with a yes or no. (My favorites start with "Why" or "How.")
Great tips here!
Posted in: Prayer Summit Reflections
Thanks for sharing your comments. I attended just for the day Tuesday, and it was a wonderful experience. Taking a few minutes to read your story reminds me that today I should spend a few minutes remembering what I learned and thinking about how to make space for it to change my life.
Posted in: Webinar Voting = No More Guesswork
The odds for me are definitely better at that time. :) (Sorry I didn't reply to this sooner!)
Posted in: Deacons: An Elder Training Ground
Thank you for writing this. I've heard or read before about it being a mistake to consider deacons a "stepping stone" to the "more important" role of elder. Clearly, these two offices could be blessed by people with quite different sets of gifts and skills.
At our church, we are trying to be more intentional about identifying our gifts and then making a connection between giftedness and where we serve. I hope as we grow in this, leadership ministries will be just one of the areas in which we affirm God's gifts in each other and grow in serving in ways where our gifts can be greatly used.
Posted in: Using Gifts and Planning Worship
We prepare a second version of the worship order for those who are involved in worship. It is basically the worship order as included int he bulletin for everyone, but with extra instructions for those leading worship. This is emailed out during the week to everyone who is serving on the upcoming Sunday, and copies of it are printed on green paper each week so all those involved can have a copy with the notes on it. It's not a perfect system, but it definitely helps keep us organized.
***** Here's just an example. From our bulletin *****
God Speaks to Us through His Word
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:15
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:3 – 19
Sermon Title: The Good Life: (8) You Shall Not Steal
We Respond to God’s Word
*Song of Response: Take My Life That It May Be (Hymn #289; v. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
Knowing You (All I Once Held Dear)
Offerings of Financial Blessings
***** The same section, from our "green sheet" (PT=Praise Team) *****
God Speaks to Us through His Word
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:15
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:3 – 19
Sermon Title: The Good Life: (8) You Shall Not Steal
[PT enter up stage steps, ready to go at amen]
We Respond to God’s Word
*Song of Response: Take My Life That It May Be (Hymn #289; v. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
[piano under reading of 2 Corinthians 9:6, 8 (beginning with God), 11]
Knowing You (All I Once Held Dear)
[PT exit stage back]
Offerings of Financial Blessings
Posted in: Using Gifts and Planning Worship
I forgot to add one of our bigger challenges is that although we often have many people involved in worship each week, our Pastor often helps with the flow by making certain announcements. On weeks when he is not here, we do need to do more organizing: Who will announce the offering? Who will make this transition? Who will say "Please be seated"? Our format doesn't specifically call out those things because many times our pastor just does it.
Another thing is something like the reading of scripture between the two songs after the sermon. It's not assigned ahead, one of the Praise Team members will volunteer during rehearsal. It's a tossup between how much time we spend ahead of time, and how much we can handle more efficiently by making Sunday morning assignments, but sometimes Sunday mornings get a little harried when we realize we have extra details to arrange.