Projects and Ideas

Ideas seem to come in spurts. I may have several in just a few days or maybe only a few over a span of several weeks. I thought I would share with you here some of the ideas that have come to me over the past several months.

I keep a "Project and Idea Board" in my office. It's a sticky board and I have half-size index cards that I write the main idea on (without much detail) and I stick it on the board. I read it over often and I check off the ones that have been put into action.

I would like to see a church-wide "Project and Idea Board" --a big board--that people could add their ideas to all year long. There are an abundance of good ideas floating around out there and a sticky board would be a great place to "catch" them.

Thoughts I have on my board includesome of the following:

• a blogging book club: read current books on faith and church life; announce the book one month out; profice communication on line; schedule a discussion on line; and name the next book about a month out to give folks time to get it and read it.
• yearly themes: Align all programs in church around certain themes, for example: joy; family; love; etc
• evening worship on Sundays, Wednesdays or perhaps Thursdays. Include songs (praise music) the Word; prayer. Would last about 45 minutes and include video, seating at tables, food, etc
• PALS groups (new): Genealogy; families with young children; Christian parenting; Christian marriage, etc
• Church campaign signs: (especially in years of elections) ask parishioners to place "campaign" signs in their yards, just as we might do with a candidate's sign. Copy could be something like "FPFC: That's My Church!" or similar
• Valet Parking: our parking is so limited, which limits our ability to fill our sanctuary, believe it or not (all the books say so!). Have valets in lot to park cars so t hat people can get out at church doors; include parking lot greeters as well, so that the church experience literally starts the moment folks arrive.
• Church school: reconfigure classes to fit a new kind of church school--one room, on line, or workshop rotation models perhaps
• After-School: elementary age students middle school too: provide snack, homework help, games, childcare for older children--ask high school students to lead with adult supervision
• visitors welcome packets;
• publicity scrapbook
• "We Expect Company" attitude (this idea is not mine--came from Julia and Peary)
• Put together resource book for assisting folks who come to the church for help
• a couples retreat
• Men's retreat or group
• couples' club
• widows and widowers support group
• Explorers Group: go out to other churches and experience worship services of all types and bring home good ideas and opinions
• Media Team: web page (Mark Forsythe) and podcasting; broadcasting on community tv
• Recording of scripture passages and prayers with music in background to be distributed to shut-ins (this is Peary's idea)
• Celebrate the Decades: celebration days for people in their sixties, their seventies; their eighties, their nineties, complete with food and fascinating facts of history made during those decases (1938-1947; 1928-1937; 1918-1927; and 1908-1917)

Some of the ideas i've had that I've already put into place are the business cards for parishioners, the Advent Candle Lighting Processions; the "I LOve My Church Because" posters; family Vacation Bible SPA; changing the look of the Triangle,and some changes to the sanctuary decor.

What are your thoughts and ideas? I would love to hear them!

Peace,

REv Donna