Communications
Backpack Blessing
This annual event is most often scheduled on the first Sunday after Labor Day. It is an opportunity for our churches to invite the community, especially those with children, to join them for a special blessing as the school year begins. School age children and teens, as well as college students, teachers school administrators and other school personnel may be included in this event that offers special prayers and a blessing for a safe and enlightening school year.
Many parishes choose to incorporate an outreach project along with this event, partnering with a local school, afterschool program or community agency that serves children.
The diocese supports this event by providing our churches with advertising and PR resources as found below, and through www.welcomewny.org, in the weeks leading up to the Backpack Blessing date.
Sample Liturgies
From the Northern Wisconsin Synod (ELCA)
From Lutheran Confessions (ELCA)
From CTA - A Community for Christian Resources
Resources
Many of these resources are updated yearly in July or August for the current year. Word documents (.doc) may be customized by replacing the time and church information with your own church's information.
General Resource Information - Download and read this first. Chock full of organizational ideas and leads on places to purchase inexpensive handouts.
Tear-off Tab Poster - Think grocery store bulletin boards!
Poster/Flyer - Great for insertion in your local Pennysaver-type publication. This is an inexpensive way to reach a lot of homes. You specify the routes and provide the preprinted flyers. They inset and deliver. Call your local publisher for details.
2011 Door Hanger - Best reproduced on 28# or 32# bond or 67# lightweight card stock available at your local office supply store or copy shop. If printing inhouse, check your printer/copier manual to see what weights of paper stock can be used.
Prayer Card (Appropriate for Older Students, Parents)
Website Buttons & Graphics - the diocesan communication office prepares unique graphics, such as the 2011 design seen here, for each year's event.
Blessing of the Animals
The Blessing of the Animals, or Pet Blessing, is held each year on or about the Feast of St. Francis (October 4), who is remembered for his concern for all living things and the environment.
Advance Planning Resources
Things to Consider - What to get ready, where to order St. Francis pet pedals, "doggie" bags, recipes for dog and cat treats, pet food collection, getting sponsors, inviting special guests, connecting with newcomers, event staff, publicity ideas and more.
Blessing All the Animals - Background and thoughts to help you make your event a truly spiritual offering fro Eco-Justice Ministries
Liturgy Resources
From the Episcopal Network for Animal Welfare
From the Episcopal Diocese of TX
Advertising/Publicity Resources
Invitation Card - Ask your local pet store to place them at their checkouts!
Prayer Cards - Hand them out at your event.
Photo ID/Information Cards Cards - Take a photo of each pet as it is being blessed. This provides you a great opportunity to collect information from visitors, which you will need to later mail or email their pet's photo at which time you can also send along information about your church and invitations to upcoming events, etc.
Event Kits
The following include organizational ideas and loads of resources to make the sponsorship of a special event easier.
If you have materials you'd like to suggest be added to any of the above or would like to suggest an event to be included above, please contact the communication office at 716-881-0660 x22 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
How To's, Tips, Guides & More
Church Marketing
Have you ever considered the fact that Jesus's twelve disciples were Christianity's original church marketing team?
YouTube Video - What if Starbucks® Marketed Like a Church: A Parable
Church Marketing Plan - A 5-step Process developed by United Methodist Communications
ChurchMarketingSucks.com - Don't let the name put you off. Great ideas and inspiration abound here.
WorshipHouseMedia.com - Short, inexpensive videos you can show in your church narthex, but not on your website.
http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/
E-newsletter Resources & Services
Great E-newsletter resources - Provided free for everyone by MailChimp
MailChimp.com - Send up to 12,000 a month to a list of up to 2,000 subscribers free!
VerticalResponse.com - Send up to 10,000 emails per month - free!
Free Photos & Images
Creation Swap - Excellent collection of modern Christian images, many of them absolutely free!
Free Christian Images - You be the judge!
Stock.Xchng - Huge collection of photos - all free
FreePhotos.se - Not as extensive as above, but still some good images.
MorgueFile.com - As above, still worth searching through.
IconShock.com - Look for the free icon bundles!
News/PR
Sharing the Good News: A Guide to WNY Media
Tips for Talking to the Media (when a big story breaks)
Tips for Publicizing your Special Events (grab the attention of your members and your community)
Church PR - Don't miss the links that run down the left side of the page, especially "What to Write About." And don't think this is just the stuff of newsletters. The "What to Write About" ideas can also be used on your own church website.
Parish Websites
Web Content: How to Find the Sweet Spots
What to say on your church's website
Church Website Best Practices - Web Writing - This is a really rich collection of articles. Scroll through them all!
Guidelines Concerning the Use of Photos
The Seven Deadly Sins of Parish Websites
The Diocesan-Hosted Parish Website Program
Social Media
Facebook Timeline: Explained & Debunked
Social Media and the Church Executive Summary (18 pages)
Social Media and the Church Thesis (100 pages)