It has been said the three most important things to consider in the realty business is location, location, and location. The same is true for the life of any organization where communication, communication, communication is central to its growth. The Church is no different. What makes us unique from the corporate world is that we must keep old structures of communication up and running in parallel with new approaches. For example, when we want to tell parishoners about an upcoming dinner at the church, the modern era encourages the use of a calendar insert on the web page or send out a group email. But this does not help the person who doesn't have a computer or doesn't use the internet or email to gather information. We have been very intentional with diverse forms of communicating with a diverse lot of information gatherers. We still call people over the phone who prefer that method and use email for those who prefer the other. We print announcements in our newsletters and Sunday bulletins as well as making verbal announcements at the midpoint in the service by the priest. We post things up on our bulletin board outside the office and give people in leadership inter-office mail. There are signs by the street beside our main sign telling passersby of an upcoming rummage sales or the dates of our summer vacation bible school. There are listings in the Venice Tribune and Venice Gondolier with articles we write. For our church we try our best to incorporate both mass and multi-media to keep people informed of our activity. It is a full time job.

These are the most involved and highest priorty forms of communication in which you can take part:

1. The Sunday Customary - Some call it the bulletin, but it is a concise document that every person shall receive when they come to church. It guides a person along the service from the opening acclamation to the dismissal. Aside from the religious aspect of providing both scriptural and liturgical information, it contains within a section for announcements. Any thing that is important to the life of the parish is writtin in short form inside that section. Every week we send the 11x14" customary through our automated trifolder and volunteers insert by hand the looseleaf(s) containing such information. We are always appreciative of those who help in this capacity.

2.The Heart of the Shepherd, Newsletter - we print about eight issues a year of the latest news at Good Shepherd. As of November 2009 it is offered, in color, online exclusively to save postage for the Church. We continue to produce a few hundred black and white hard copies for our parishoners to pick up when they visit. They are invited to take as many copies as they like, sharing it with friends and neighbors. Every time we produce a copy we are in dire need of willing and able people to help us collate them for distribution.

3. The Website - This has been greatly enhanced and we have high hopes that more and more people will rely on it. The internet is becoming a more utilized form of communicating lots of information quickly. Photos and sermons, calendars and events can be put "out there" promptly and reliably. It is always going through moments of updating and any parishoner who is not fearful of the technology are encouraged to inquire with the priest on how they may assist, keeping it up and running.

4. Newspaper - As of now, the priest has been supplying articles for submission into our local papers, but he is in need of journalists within the parish who would like to write. This is a request for the future. These articles can be religious articles or coverage of events. Currently, we average about two to three articles per year in the two local papers. If you are willing to take on such an assignment please inquire with the priest.

5. Word-of-mouth - This, by far, is our greatest source of communication. Every parishoner is charged to share with their neighbors and friends the abundance of good fellowship and worship that goes on at Good Shepherd. Evangelize! Bring others to Christ by bringing others to church.

Connor Wiggins

Communications Chair

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