Emergent Brethren

This year at Annual Conference, there will be an insight session focusing on media and worship. Assisting in the presentation will be a multi-media pastor from a church in San Diego. During this insight session, I would like to show on how congregations can use of media to enhance worship and highlight the best of how congregations are using multi-media in worship. For more information, you’re invited to download the Information Form. If you would like to submit something you’ve created for worship for possible use in the insight session, please submit it with the Submission Form.

I would really like to give the media artists in our church the opportunity to show-off their best work. I would also like for the members of our congregations to be inspired by the work of others to develop their own ministry. This insight session will help people to network with one another, in addition to being inspired. A DVD of the best submissions will be distributed during the insight session.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me. I look forward to hearing from you! Please refer this information with anyone you know who is developing media for worship! Please check back to this announcement, as I will be updating it in the future.

Thanks!

Jeff Glass
jglass_gb@brethren.org
888-826-4951

Sometimes I really love the “Way I See It” comments on the sides of Starbuck’s cups. Today, I had the following comment on the side of my cup:

The Way I See It #299

There is a subtle difference between a mission and a promise. A mission is something you strive to accomplish– a promise is something you are compelled to keep. One is individual, the other is shared. When a mission and a promise are one and the same. . . that’s when mountains are moved and races are won. Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO, Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

I was struck by how Hala separates mission and promise, declaring that mission is an individual activity. Certainly, someone can be on a personal mission. But in the church, we think of mission as a collective activity, both in terms of the “Great Commission” and your local church mission.

However, I really love the last sentence that when mission and promise are one and the same. . . What does it take for mission and promise to be one and the same for your congregation? Do we sometimes develop mission statements in our local congregations without promises?

What do you think? What’s your experience? What do you see that works?

Jeff

Hey, it’s been a while since there’s been much action there, so I’ll throw-out this topic to you! Many of us have websites, either personal or for our congregations. In your mind, what makes for a good website? What really attracts you to a website? What repels you? What design elements are good and what are a turn-off?

I’d love to hear your comments to the above questions!

Here’s a list of 5 things that I think can turn people off to your church website:

1. Not mentioning what’s happening this week. New people often go to a website first to check your church out before coming to visit. Not having current info on what’s happening leaves them in the dark and may help them make their decision to not visit. Likewise, having information what what’s happening last month or last year, as if its current, can be a BIG turn-off.

2. A big picture of your church building on the main page. What’s ministry really about, people or your building? In my opinion, having pictures of people on your home page is most important. A picture of your building might be better placed on the “Directions” section of your site.

3. Having lots and lots of pictures and graphics on your home page. Having pictures and graphics are important, but be careful not to overwhelm people when they visit your site.

4. Using bad photography. Good, brightly lit, well-cropped photos are important to show your best! Pictures with shadows are not good. Pictures showing people in the distance are not good. Head and shoulder shots of people or close-ups of people doing things together are much better.

5.Directions to your church or worship times that are difficult to find. I’ve been to more than once church website where I could not easily find directions or what time they gather for worship. Something similar is not finding an email address to contact the church or pastor. To make your church more attractive to others, its important to make finding this kind of information easy.

What are your turn-on’s and turn-off’s for church websites? Do you like multi-media on sites? What would you add to my list above?

Also, in your opinion, what are the best Church of the Brethren websites? If you were going to nominate a congregation’s site for recognition, whose would you name?

I’d love to get your thoughts on all the above!

Jeff

Hey, there’s a really interesting debate going-on at another blog site. Some of the writers include Alan Hirsch, Dan Kimball, Scot McKnight, and Andy Crouch.

Missional vs. Attractional: Debating the Data
What do the numbers say? It depends who you ask.

The debate continues. For the last two weeks, opinions have been fast and furious on the definition and validity of “missional” churches. It all began with Dan Kimball’s post about his missional misgivings. . .

If you would like to check-out this debate go to Out of Ur.

Does this debate touch any of your nerves or stir your passions? If so, please come back and share some of your reflections and how the Church of the Brethren (either as a denomination or your local congregation) works at being missional or attractional.

Jeff

Next year, the Church of the Brethren Congregational Life Team is sponsoring a video contest to see who can best creatively interpret next year’s theme: “The old has gone! The new has come! All this is from God!”.

Watch Moderator David Shumate explain this year’s theme on YouTube.

The winner will have their video shown from the floor of Annual Conference plus receive a $100 prize. Up to 4 runner’s up will have their video’s distributed on a DVD at conference and receive a $50 prize.

For more information, please take a look at the Video Contest Information and Video Contest Entry Form. Here’s the PDF version of the Video Contest Information Form and Video Contest Entry Form.

If you’re not a multi-media or video editor person, please pass this information to someone who is!

Please feel free to get in contact with me for any questions:

Jeff Glass
888-826-4951
jglass_gb@brethren.org