Communications at Emmanuel The nuts and bolts of getting the word out for your ministry

Newsletter  Publishes on the first and third Tuesdays during the program year  Articles are due to Pamela by the Tuesday before printing  Schedule available in your packet and the online calendar  Unsolicited articles are always welcome!  Staff edits articles for clarity, content and length

What makes a good article?  Targets the whole parish  Covers the basics: who, what, when, where, why  Invites participation  Explains the tradition  Provides contact information  Reports on past activities, including quotes or first-person perspective

Sunday Announcements  Written announcements are often taken from newsletter articles by communications staff  Suggestions and submissions are due by Tuesday for the upcoming Sunday  Timely, in-parish communications plus weekly schedule  Eliminates most bulletin inserts  Oral announcements can be made at the offertory at all services, check with Jake for 9 or Celebrant for 8 & 10:30 before the service begins

What makes a good announcement?  Short, usually not more than 100 words  Clearly and simply worded  Catchy phrase to introduce  Who, what, when, where  How to get involved  Contact information  Provides plenty of lead time for planning

Website  All website decisions are made by the Assistant Rector  Send submissions to Hope  Update your pages before the program year  All forms for Program Year should be on the website  Pictures and suggestions for placement welcomed

Bulletin Boards  Assigned in Tuesday staff meeting once a month  Updated by the first Sunday of each month  Requests for board space go to your cluster’s staff member  Materials that can be reused will be purchased from the communications budget  Other materials come out of your ministry budget

What makes a good board?  Pictures, pictures, pictures  Don’t just recruit, inform  Simple, colorful design  Pictures of people  A few, simple words  Regular updating  Did I mention pictures?

Letters and Postcards  Target specific parish groups  Combine mailings and include several events in one mailing  Limit your mailings as much as possible  Due in the parish office at least two days before mail date

What makes a good mailing?  Cover letter that explains purpose of mailing with your signature and contact information  Yearly or quarterly calendar of events  Registration forms, maps, and lists  Announcement of major changes to a program  Covers the basics, even if it’s repetitive  Group roster

Outside the Parish  Yard Signs  Limited to one event at a time  Cannot advertise any events with alcohol  Coordinate with Hope  Press Releases  Cannot advertise any events with alcohol  Communications team can help produce and distribute  Paid Advertising  Limited to Christmas and Easter

Diocesan Communications  Coordinated by Sandra Coburn  iSEEK weekly electronic newsletter provides information for bulletins, timely submissions and calendar items welcome  Story ideas for SEEK, quarterly magazine, are also welcomed. Editorial board sets the final contents  Go online to DioceseMo.org to receive iSEEK and make sure your contributions are correct.