I've had trouble not being a bit of a humbug the last few days. From the horror of Black Friday frenzy intruding into Thanksgiving to the screaming online advertisements of companies that have huge sales, or piles of links to other sales (affiliate bait), to countdowns of the deals and reminders every time you open your email that it is your LAST CHANCE for this incredible DEAL.
Last year I bought a number of those deals and in a year's time haven't used many of them and the ones I tried didn't do what I hoped they'd do. My response this year was to delete and unsubscribe. I can't seem to keep up on all the work I need to do with the tools I have now. Humbug.
Then along comes GIVING TUESDAY
The Days of the Year Website tells us:
Giving Tuesday was created when two organizations, the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation came together in 2012, about a month before that year's Thanksgiving. Their intention was to set aside a day that was all about celebrating the generosity of giving, a great American tradition.
I do love the idea and the motivation behind it, but I must admit many of the ministry requests I got in the midst of all the other crush of demands and deals often felt like one more case of financial badgering. I know that
isn't true. I'm glad many ministries I support double donations today. I know ministries need that. I donate to many.
I thought about doing a plea for support for the Effective Church Communications Ministry.
But I just couldn't. Not today. Then I realized......
This is an opportunity for me to GIVE to YOU!
It isn't anything new really, just a reminder of the many TEMPLATES and especially the Christmas ones I have for all of you for FREE!
Some of you have discovered these, but many of you are new to the site. We've had lots of new sign ups recently (WELCOME!) and I thought I'd sent out this post telling you about them. They are totally FREE. No, "try this one and then here is the real cost." No, these are truly FREE.
We have lots of different ones from some of the cards illustrated earlier on this page, to this one, which is my favorite. It can be used as a postcard or bulletin insert or shared through social media. It reminds us that Jesus is the reason for the Season by citing the words of the Nicene Creed.
More than just pretty templates—Templates with a ministry purpose
The templates from Effective Church Communications aren't only designed to look good and be useful, but they are templates with a well-defined ministry purpose. For example, the collection of Christmas Templates are designed to take people from outside the church to welcome them to a Christmas activity, to invite them back, and enable them to consider Jesus (that's in the template set "Because He didn't stay a baby")
To expand and illustrate more what I mean by the templates having a ministry purpose, I created a VIDEO and a Podcast on this (PLEASE listen to my new podcast if you haven't yet! Short, helpful strategies, resources, ideas, and challenges for church communicators). Below are the links to them.
PODCAST: Podcast More than a Pretty Face--Free Templates with a Ministry Strategy
VIDEO: ECC TEMPLATES and an overview of FREE CHRISTMAS TEMPLATES
PLEASE Share these resources
The Templates, Christmas and otherwise really are free and very easy to use. They are in PDF and MS Publisher format and can all be printed either in your church or using online or other printers. Please pass them on to any and all churches who could benefit from them.
Just CLICK HERE to go to them.
Please share your thoughts, comments, questions!