Evangelism & Publicity Team

NEXT Meeting:  Evangelism & Publicity Team Mtg. Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. (Chapel)
     AGENDA: Finalize FCCC Brochure, Plan "Open Air In Market Square" Dates, Discuss Plain Dealer Article regarding St. John's Episcopal Church's new initiatives in the neighborhood.

NEXT Event: TBD

Evangelism and Publicity Team Meeting Notes
October 9, 2007

Opening Reading and Prayer
From "Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church For Greater Growth"

Welcome new member, Janelle Eccleston!

2008 Budget
     What mission priorities do we want to have in the coming year?
     > More youth oriented evangelism (connect with calling of Assoc. Pastor for Youth)
     > Keep up what we started with the Plain Dealer listing on Saturdays.
     > Get out, show ourselves more, be out in the community at other events, wearing our t-shirts.  For example: volunteering, answering phones at telethons, AIDS Walk, events at Clark Field, etc.
     > Be at Open Air in Market Square more next summer.  Perhaps get a vendor's license and sell a product to draw more people to our booth.
     > Engage more in other types of media, such as radio and television.  Possibly put our worship on the public access channels.
     > Add an FCCC identifier (tag with name, website, worship times, etc.) to things other church groups are already doing, such as with the CWF Health Kits, USO cookies, etc.
     > Have a professional set of photographs taken of the church.  (Cheryl's friend, Steve, has volunteered to do this.)
     > Create and print a full-color brochure of the church, with photos.
     > Do not invest in a lot of mailings, they are not as effective.  (IDEA of personal Christmas Cards, see * below)

Pastor Allen will try to put budget figures with these items and turn in a budget to Randy ASAP.

Postcards
     > The idea of a picture postcard of the church was enthusiastically supported.  We will get prices for 1,000 glossy color postcards with a photo of the front of the church building on it, and budget this for next year.  We perhaps might be able to use one of the photos supplied by Cheryl's friend, Steve.  We could put some at the Lolly The Trolley store, and sell others at church for 24 cents each.

Give Away Item(s)
> The idea of a lip balm with our church info on it was well received by the group.  They were much less enthusiastic about a pill bottle, especially the two samples we had to look at.  We will explore the costs to buy lip balm to give away to promote the church (Patty has a sample).
> Also, we suggested that as the New Worship Initiatives Team looks at a second service, that they consider creating a coffee mug or pens for promoting the new service.

Selling Our T-Shirts
> Janelle will take an inventory of our shirts when she comes by the church tomorrow.  Ann W., Cheryl, and Janelle will sell shirts at Community Hour on Sunday, October 21.  We will have a clipboard with "Future Orders" to be taken (but NO money until shirts arrive): Name, size, phone number.  We need to be more careful with accounting, especially with different people selling the shirts each time.  All money turned in goes to Mission Council to repay loan.

Name Tags
> Michelle has most of the nametags completed.  We have obtained a coat rack and are in the process of putting more hooks on it.  We will need to clean/paint it before it is ready.

Special Advent and Christmas Evangelism
*> An idea came up to send Christmas/Holiday Cards to new neighbors in our community.  The idea was enthusiastically endorsed.  We will:
     1.     Purchase a list of new residents of 44113 from a direct mail company (also speak to Councilman Cimperman as to whether or not he has such a list available for free).
     2.     Purchase bulk Christmas cards with preprinted Church Name, Address, Phone, Website in it.
     3.     Purchase Christmas stamps.
     4.     Create a small flyer to include with Christmas week services dates and times.
     5.     Set up date to hand write addresses on envelopes, stamp, and mail.  (Would this be a good project to work with youth group on?)

Closing Prayer


P.S.     Does anybody know where the white folder that has all of the church's publicity is?  We've seemed to have lost it recently!  Pastor Allen 


Evangelism & Publicity Team Minutes
May 7, 2007 Meeting

Present: Jean Borrelli, Michelle Brown, Patty Groetsch, Allen Harris, Claire Munley, Ann Wolf, Joe Wolf, Cheryl Yurcak


1. Opening Prayer & Exercise
a. Name a specific person you know, other than you or a family member, who is struggling with life issues.
b. Name one place in the life of Franklin Circle Christian Church in the past two months where this person may have found spiritual support, help with their concerns, or a place to be nurtured if they had known about it or had been able to attend.
c. Prayer for these persons named and unnamed, and for this church’s ministry.

2. T-Shirts
a. THIS Sunday: The team will wear their shirts to worship. It will be announced that the shirts will be for sale in the coming weeks ($3 children and youth; $4 adults; Youth large and Adult XL and XXL available).
b. On May 20 at Community Hour we will sell the shirts. Patty, Claire, and Michelle will be at the “booth,” Claire will handle the money; Michelle the paperwork, and Patty will hand out the shirts and supervise.
c. Children and youth will come up first and get their shirts (every child will get a shirt).
d. We will keep account of all the shirts sold (to whom and sizes), and Michelle will create an order form for future t-shirt orders.
e. We’ll repeat this as needed in the coming weeks.
3. Open Air in Market Square
a. We will have a booth at the Open Air market on Saturdays May 26, June 9, July 21, and August 4.
b. We will rent a 10'x10' booth space for $55 (if prices are the same as last year).
c. We will, through a Mission Council Endeavor, purchase for the church’s use a 10' x 10' canopy. (Bev: could you do some pricing on this?)
d. Pastor Allen will call OCNW to find out about: do church’s need vendor’s license to sell things, how many people attend, who are the musicians on the days we have chosen.
e. We will take two of our white plastic tables.
f. On the table we will have: table clothes, small cross, baskets (for candy), potted plants, and plastic display holders. We will have seed packets with labels advertising the CWF Plant Swap & Hot Dog Sale; small candy bars with labels of the church’s info; flyers on VBS, summer lunch program, as well as that months’ church calendars, Messenger newsletters, other flyers as needed. Patty will purchase the candy bars and seed packets; Pastor Allen will make the labels and the cards to put on them.
g. We will check to see if we have a banner we can use to put on the front of the table.
h. Shifts for May 26: 8:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: Patty, Michelle, Jean; 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Claire, ?Colleen, ?Cari?; 2:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.: ?Bev, ?Clifford, others. Pastor Allen will be present throughout the day. We will invite others to sign up for the booth.

4. CWF Keychains
a. The CWF are creating keychains for sale ($2 each) with a picture of the church and info about the church on it. We talked about, with Mission Council approval, to purchase 60 of these to give out to visitors each week.
b. This led to a discussion about Greeters.

5. Greeters:
a. By next fall, we want the Greeters to be in charge of name tags. Michelle will work on a design with the computer that emphasizes the individual’s first name (large bold print) and has a Disciples Chalice symbol on it. We need to come up with a display rack that is workable.
b. We hope to have 2 greeters each Sunday, standing outside of the doors of the sanctuary, who will give each person their name tag and make a temporary one for guests.
c. At the end of worship there will be a child/youth at the bottom of the stairs at the front of the church with a basket to collect name tags, and a child/youth at the door of the chapel at the end of Community Hour to do the same. They would organize them and then put them back on the rack.

6. Other Items:
a. Cheryl Yurcak reported that the new pictorial directories are done, every household will receive one. Thanks to Cheryl Yurcak, who did the lion’s share of the work, as well as Joe Stanley, who offered Cheryl the use of his computer. Thanks also to AlphaGraphics downtown for donating the printing. Pastor Allen will write a thank you note to AlphaGraphics for their donation.
b. Joe Wolf encouraged us to have Greeters at the Thursday Meal Program when it returns to our space in June. Pastor Allen will see if Brenda Torrey would organize this.
c. We will have a booth for Stand Up And Be Counted in September at the Community Hours.

7. Next Meeting: Monday, June 11 @ 6:30 p.m. Topics: Evaluate two Open Air in Market Square days, talk about handouts to visitors, picture postcards for Lolly the Trolley tours.
 

Minutes Of The Evangelism & Publicity Team Meeting
Thursday, January 11, 2007

1. We shared stories of meeting one of our visitors/new members since our last meeting (October 23)

2. We heard a report from Cheryl Yurcak from “Telling Your Story VI: Non-Profits & The Media” a workshop offered by The Center For Community Solutions which she attended on November 9, 2006. We approved buying the 2007-2008 Media Guide for $40 (the 2002 one is quite out of date)

3. We looked at and CELEBRATED publicity the church has received since our last meeting, including Pastor Allen being interviewed by WHKW AM 1020 the week of Thanksgiving.

4. We reviewed our 5 Goals set at last meeting:
a. SUCCESS! We now have an ad in the weekly “Your Worship Directory” in the Cleveland Plain Dealer Saturday edition. We approved two more months.
b. SUCCESS! Improve use of the outdoor sign board!
c. IN PROCESS: New FCCC T-Shirts:
i. We decided on logos for front and back (see attachment)
ii. We decided on color of shirt: Jade (to go with our sanctuary carpet/upholstery and website color)
iii. We decided on quality and content of shirt: Fruit of the Loom 50 cotton/50 polyester, 6.1 weight.
iv. We decided on price: $3 youth size, $4 all others ($10 maximum for family)
To see the shirts www.catalogsportswear.com
d. IN PROCESS: Elders Shepherding new members. Ideas were shared: Have elder up front to welcome new member and then escort to Community Hour following worship, write a welcome note during the first week and make a follow-up phone call a few weeks later, call the church office to make sure the new member is on the newsletter list, make sure a photo is taken of the new member for the next newsletter.
e. IN PROCESS: Renewed use of name tags. We looked at a sample nametag, with the person’s first name very large, and last name smaller underneath. It also was suggested we have our “Widening The Circle” motto around a red chalice. For those folks who are members, we could have at the bottom: “Member Since 2000” or whatever the appropriate date.
f. BALL DROPPED: Deliver last year’s Advent devotional book to neighborhood organizations.

5. Look at year ahead and chart ideas (see Year-Round Evangelism list below)

6. Other business:
a. 165th Anniversary: have a table for Joe Wolf to sell remaining Garfield/FCCC t-shirts; table about Disciples of Christ; table about FCCC; table for each visiting “daughter” church; pictures of recent events, packets about FCCC available

7. Closing Prayer


NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 6:30 P.M.
 

Year-Round Evangelism
Notes from the January 11, 2007 meeting
of the Evangelism & Publicity Team

January:
Plain Dealer “Your Church Directory” ad (continued through at
least April, if not year-round)
Hot drinks provided (servant evangelism)
Art Show for community
ML King, Jr. special event

February:
165th Anniversary Celebration (Plain Dealer “display” ad)
Ash Wednesday service promotion
African American History Month special event

March:
Lent special promotion
“Month of Discovery” tours of Cleveland sites, like a guided tour of Lakeview Cemetery or hiking Riverside Cemetery
Organ/voice concert w/brown bag lunch

April:
Holy Week/Easter special promotion
Plain Press ad
Month of Discovery (continue or repeat)
Earth Day special event (recycling info bag idea)

May:
OCNW Home Tour Ad
Flowers outside church (spruce up church grounds)
Mother’s Day special event

June:
Father’s Day special event
Pew Fans with church photo/logo
Booth at Market Square
Gay & Lesbian Pride special event/promotion
Free fishing day (in conjunction with state wildlife dept.)

July:
Outdoor Worship & Picnic (more signage)
Vacation Bible School
Booth at Market Square

August:
Booth at Market Square
Provide refreshments (lemonade) (servant evangelism)
Back-To-School special event (backpack giveaway idea)
OCNW Festival/Parade?

September:
Hispanic Awareness month special event
Near West Theatre playbill ad (for entire season)
Labor Day special event
Rally Day/Back To Sunday School promotion

October:
Harvest Festival/Fall Party

November:
Veteran’s Day special event
Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless/lonely

December:
Advent special promotion
Advent devotional booklet give away
Christmas Plain Press ad
Christmas party (for children/the community)

Agenda For/Notes From Evangelism & Publicity Team Meeting
October 23, 2006 – 6 p.m.

1. Introductions: By whom and in what manner were you last contacted by a church other than FCCC?

2. Read article by Father Joe Fortuna of Ascension Catholic Church and discuss (copied below).

3. Our Primary Objective: To help us, as a congregation, know ourselves so well that we are comfortable and confident about telling our story about God and the church to others SO THAT they may experience God’s love and unconditional acceptance here, too!

4. Five goals for between now and the end of 2006
a. Be more intentional about shepherding new members after they join. (Jean and Allen will talk to the Elders and Bev and Clair will talk to the Diaconate)
b. Create, make, and sell FCCC T-Shirts (Bev will gather information from vendors)
c. Improve method and use of name tags for participants and visitors (Allen will buy new computer-ready card stock name tags and Michelle will talk to Worship Team about using Greeters to hand out name tags. Baskets will be available to collect in both the Narthex and Chapel)
d. Use last year’s Advent Devotional Book as an evangelism tool this Advent/Christmas. (Michelle will print off and copy booklet, Joe will distribute to neighborhood institutions, such as nursing homes, hospitals, community centers)
e. Improve use of the outdoor sign board (Allen will work with staff to share responsibilities.)

5. Brainstorm ways in which our church can spread the word… about God and about our ministry.
a. Word of mouth/personal invitation
b. Website
c. Special events (revivals, community-oriented events, etc.)
d. Servant Evangelism (www.servantevangelism.com)
e. Free print publicity (Community Announcements, Religion Calendar Listing, etc.)
f. Mailings (all-in-one packages, by geography, by special interest, etc.)
g. Door-to-door (knocking, leaving flyer, leaving bag, etc.)
h. Paid advertising (Plain Dealer, Plain Press, West Side Sun, etc.)
i. Fairs/parades (Summer Market Square, etc.)
j. Give-aways (pens, coffee cups, key chains, etc.)
k. Passive in-house (posters up around church, flyers around church, etc.)
l. Gimmicks! (pastor in steeple to raise food for food bank, etc.)
m. Radio ads
n. Television ads
o. Billboards
p. Newsletter
q. T-Shirts
r. ____
s. ____

6. Education: Telling Your Story VI: Nonprofits & The Media, Thursday, November 9, 2006 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon, sponsored by the Center For Community Solutions, and hosted by Cleveland Sight Center, 1909 E. 101 St.

7. Resources on the Web:
a. www.Disciples.org/cm/media  (CC Disciples of Christ)
b. http://www.homelandministries.org/Evangelism/index.htm
c. http://www.evangelismconnections.org
d. www.Outreach.com
e. www.ServantEvangelism.org
f. www.netresults.org
g. http://www.geistchristian.org/mailnet/
h. http://www.ucc.org/evangelism/res.htm  (United Church of Christ)
i. http://www.gbod.org/evangelism/  (United Methodist Church)


Other Brainstorming Ideas:
Pay to be listed in the Plain Dealer Saturday line listing
Have pastor on Radio Community Forum (Ted Lux, WGAR/WHK)
Publicize November Kids Walk at Edgewater
Lolley the Trolly (FCCC/Garfield postcard at gift shop)
Small get-togethers to hear one another’s stories (soup and sharing, “Friendship Hours”)
Strengthen and connect better new members
Improve Community Coffee Hour for visitors by having light programming, music, recognize birthdays (with bd pins), ice-breakers, simple games, etc.

 

ASCENSION OF OUR LORD CHURCH CLEVELAND, OH
From Fr. Joe’s Desk...
It Happens Every October

Two things come together every October to disturb me.
It’s not that the Indians are out of the playoffs or that the
Browns’ season is already over. No, what I’m referring to in
the first place is the fact that every October the Diocese
asks us to count the number of people who come to church
on the weekends. What is disturbing about this is that –
just as for many churches – every year that number
shrinks.

The second thing that disturbs me is that every year
about this time, we compile a list of those who have died in
the previous year. The good news this year is that this
number is smaller than last year. The bad news is that it is
still greater than the number of baptisms and weddings
we’ve had in the past year. In other words, we’re dying
faster than we’re growing.

So every October I begin to wonder, “Why aren’t we
growing? What can we do to attract more people into our
community?” (I will note in passing that of those who are
here, a high percentage are actively involved. But still, our
overall numbers are diminishing.)

With this in the background of my thinking, I drove by a
well known local bar this evening on my way back from
dinner. There were about a dozen motorcycles parked in
front of the building. I’ve been in this bar about three times
in my more than twelve years here at Ascension. It’s not a
bad place. The people were always friendly. But it has
become a symbol for me of the challenge we face as a
local Christian community. How do we say anything to the
regular clientele of this establishment that engages them?
How do we share what we say is important to us in such a
way that they might begin to consider it as important to
them?

(I know I’m making some assumptions here. It is
possible that every one of the owners of the motorcycles
parked in front of the bar belonged to Ascension
parishioners. It is also possible that every single one of
them worships with us every weekend. I don’t mean to
slight or offend any to whom this applies!)

On the other hand, I also think it is possible, perhaps
even more likely, that these are our neighbors who don’t
know us. They don’t know who we are, what we stand for,
what makes us tick. Worse still, they may very well not be
interested. They may have long ago come to the
conclusion that church in general and Catholicism in
particular simply has nothing of significance to say to them
or to offer them. They ride their cycles past us just as
easily and usually with about as much interest as I drove
past the bar tonight.

But if we are going to grow as a Catholic Christian
community, we have to wrestle seriously with what this bar
as a symbol means. If my assumptions are correct, it
means among other things that there is a disconnect
between us and them. It means that we’re not reaching
some of the very people we ought to be reaching.

And every October as I think about such things, I keep
coming back to: What would I say to them if I had the
chance? Suppose I drove to rather than past the bar some
evening, went in, ordered a beer and sat next to one of the
patrons at the bar. What could I say to him or her that
would be engaging and meaningful?

I could introduce myself and begin to talk immediately
about God, the Church and Ascension. My conversation
partner might be interested in such topics, kind of in the
way we get interested in some TV special we weren’t
planning on watching, but that wasn’t totally boring. On the
other hand, it is also possible that such talk would be
received as beside the point, irrelevant, not capable of
making much of a difference one way or another.

So every October I try to think of how to engage all my
brothers and sisters who normally don’t cross our
threshold, but who regularly cross the threshold of the bar
(or any other of several neighborhood institutions). And
every year I keep coming back to the same three things.

 First, when I sit down to talk with them, my first goal
shouldn’t be to share what is important to me or to us at
Ascension. Rather, it should be to learn from them what is
important to them. It should be to hear their story, find out
what makes them tick. And this should be done not just as
some technique that sets them up to hear the message and
be drawn in. Rather, it should be an expression of genuine
care and concern about the other. Only on the basis of
such care and concern can anything I might have to share
as important be given a free and credible hearing by the
other person at the bar.

Second, at some point in the conversation (actually
maybe two or three other conversations down the road) I
should actually begin to talk explicitly about God, faith,
church and Ascension. I should begin to say what I believe
about all this and why I value it. I should begin to describe
the difference these make in my life. I should begin to use
religious language to describe the significant religious
dimensions of my life. But again, this has to be offered not
for my benefit, but with the interests of the other in mind.

Last but certainly not least, each year at this time I
realize that this is not just the work of the priest or of a
professional minister. It is the mission of each and every
member of this parish we call Ascension. What I have
been describing is sometimes called evangelization, and it
is the common mission we all share.

I think about these things every October. Maybe we
can all think about them next time we go into our
neighborhood hangouts.