Tim Postuma
I work for the CRC as 'web guy'. But that doesn't mean I'm a coder (others are way better at that than me). I'm first and foremost a communicator, so what I love to do is look for ways we can better communicate as a denomination using technology. I get to listen for ideas that are out there, come up with a few of my own, and help them become reality. Examples include the Network website and the Digital Library. I also connect with the web/communications people for each of the CRC ministries. So if you have ideas for how we can better communicate using technology you can feel free to route suggestions through me. We WANT those ideas. I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba - go, Jets - but now live in Grand Rapids, MI (much to my surprise!). My wonderful wife is a CRC chaplain and we have three kids that keep us plenty busy.
Posted in: The HC is on the Cutting Edge of Youth Ministry!
To amplify your point, Marcel, I saw this posted today:
Interview with Kevin DeYoung on The Good News We Almost Forgot in the Heidelberg Catechism
(Kevin DeYoung is the pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, MI, co-author of several books (Why We Love the Church and Why We’re Not Emergent), and author of Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will. Kevin kindly agreed to be interviewed about his new book, The Good News We Almost Forgot: Rediscovering the Gospel in a 16th Century Catechism, which is on the Heidelberg Catechism.)
Posted in: How to Podcast Sermons
WordPress and other blog/CMS tools also have podcast plugins. I was just looking into that for a friend's podcast, but haven't implemented.
On a related note...I've wondered whether we try to encourage all the CRC pastors/churches to post to a central repository like SermonCentral, SermonCloud, etc Not only does that provide a nice feature set, I think our pastors have something good to offer people who cruise those sites. I haven't researched them enough to be able to promote one vs. another. Has anyone done some head-to-head comparisons?
Posted in: Livestreaming Sunday Service on WordPress?
Hi Rita. What streaming service are you using? It should be possible to embed their player into one of your website pages.
Posted in: Livestreaming Sunday Service on WordPress?
Ah, I see. I haven't used AWS Media Services. It looks pretty technical. My experience is limited to Livestream.com and similar services, where the streaming service comes with its own player that you can embed on any web page.
Posted in: When to Reopen Church? (And When to Re-Close)
This was shared with a group of pastors last week. I particularly like the first section of 'values that will guide our decision-making'. Seems wise to name and agree on some values first.
Reopening Questions, Considerations, and Strategies (from Harbor Churches)
Posted in: When to Reopen Church? (And When to Re-Close)
Thanks for sharing that helpful perspective, Ken. For many like you, at-home is the way they normally experience worship. So important for us to remember that!
I've really enjoyed my church's new way of at-home worship, and have found it to be enriching in different ways. Sure, I look forward to worshipping in person again. But I certainly don't feel the need to push the envelope or take any unnecessary risks to do it soon.
Posted in: When to Reopen Church? (And When to Re-Close)
I can imagine a lot of issues with that approach, and real potential for hurt relationships and harm to health. Do we pass the offering plate? Do we invite the kids up for the blessing? Will nursery be offered? What happens if someone is wanting to keep distance and someone else sits right behind them and sings down their neck? What if one person is wearing a mask and keeping distance and another church member comes right up to them to chat without a mask? Do we have coffee time after the service, and will the servers take any precautions? Etc.
Even assuming all members are trying to stay fully informed, it may be from different sources and some of it might conflict. The church in the article linked above agreed upon significant precautions, and still ended up with more than half the people attending their event getting the virus and two church members dying.
Communal worship is, well, communal. And like any community, we rely on many social norms that we typically take for granted. Right now, those norms are upended. Before opening for worship, it seems wise for church leaders to help establish what the new norms will be and communicate those so people know what to expect and can decide, for themselves, whether to participate. That's the topic of this thread.
Posted in: When to Reopen Church? (And When to Re-Close)
From Restrictions to Precautions: A Classis Letter On Churches Gathering Again (from Classis Georgetown)
Posted in: When to Reopen Church? (And When to Re-Close)
Just Because the Economy is Reopening Doesn't Mean Churches Should (from The Banner)
Posted in: When to Reopen Church? (And When to Re-Close)
More news stories are appearing about churches that caused COVID-19 spread. Today the CDC issued this detailed study of one such incident:
High COVID-19 Attack Rate Among Attendees at Events at a Church (from the CDC)
Posted in: How Does Your Church Do Photo Directories?
Good topic! Here's what we do...for a few weeks each year, we announce that we'll be taking directory photos after the service. Those photos are taken in a prominent location, so even those that miss the announcement see what's happening and join the line. One of the staff just takes photos on her phone, but it could also be a good volunteer task for someone. A few people choose to email their own photo to the church office.
The rest of the directory info comes from our church management system (ChMS), and then the photos are added as part of the page layout. But this year, with our new ChMS, I believe they'll be adding photos directly into the ChMS so they're available there as part of the online/app directory as well. And then everything - photos and text - are dumped out from the ChMS to build the print directory.
I know some other churches use Instant Church Directory with success, so might want to check that out as well. Especially if you aren't currently using a ChMS.
So that's roughly how we do it....but I'm really curious to hear how other churches do it. Others???
Posted in: How Does Your Church Do Photo Directories?
I think our church recently switched from PowerChurch to Realm. But from an online search it appears that ServantKeeper can store photos and create print directories as well.