As the Andy Williams song (Youtube) tells us, this really is the most wonderful time of the year.  But, like everything else in 2020, the pandemic is making us re-think how we do Christmas services and events. 

(verse 3) There will be services for reserving and childcare for serving.  Families wary to go.  Because of scary Covid stories and tales of the gories of viruses long, long ago. 

Peace on earth and goodwill toward men.  This chorus about the coming Messiah is especially good news for us in 2020.  Our family so longed for this gospel message that we decided to put up our Christmas tree on Halloween day!  

What is your favorite resource on the Internet?  YouVersion Bible?  A YouTube Channel? Right Now Media? The Bible Project? Sermon Archives? A Blog Post?  Imagine people sending a text to your church office number with a keyword of your choosing that would take them directly to that website? The LINK functionality of Text-to-Church does exactly that.

Some good news - It's finally November, 2020. 

We're on the last lap of this most unique year. Many churches have started and are starting to meet for large group worship on Sunday again.  Many will still wait a couple more months or longer. Some have restarted and had to go back to just live stream due to a Covid outbreak in their community.  But, whenever the time is right for your church, you're going to want a way to track the comeback. 

None of us will forget 2020, that's for sure.  As churches are starting to meet back, it's good to see check-in start to pick up again.  Here are a few blog posts since Covid started on ways we've adapted check-in to this new world.

Room Check-in, Count and Close
Medical Affirmation Before Check-in?
Text-to-Check-in for Virtual Attenders

As both veteran and new clients are thinking about their new approach to check-in, we often get asked if we can accommodate their different ideas.  Because our system is so robust we are almost always able to accommodate. 

Let's face it, working through Connection Cards consumes a lot of staff time.  Administrative staff spend time entering data, sending communication and making follow-up assignments.  Ministry staff spend time trying to connect with people, personally leaving too many voicemails that never get further follow-up.

A Digital Connection Card used in conjunction with our Workflow and Assimilation Tracking is the system you are looking for to free up time from tedious work and optimize personal relationships.

If you pour out your time and heart to pick the right font, images, navigation and content for your website.  If it drives you crazy to see unbranded or rogue email templates being used by staff.  If you wish there were a way to connect your social media and streaming messages to your communication process.  You must be responsible for your church's communication.

In 2 Corinthians 11:28, Paul writes, "Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches."

Pastors these days know exactly what Paul is referring to.  They've felt the uncertainty of cancelling worship services for the first time in their church's history. They hear the conflicting counsel about re-opening. They feel the angst of political polarization.  They care for out-of-work friends and family. They sincerely pray for the critically ill.    

The uncertainty of this year so far has caused all of us to innovate like crazy.  This weekly blog chronicles much of our journey as a software company. 

Hopefully this season will soon be over.  To help capture what you've learned, I wanted to share with you a conversation with Dave Workman about an affordable, fun, and creative way for a team to do strategic planning. 

Dave was part of Vineyard Cincinnati, an innovative mega-church, from its inception and then as Sr. Pastor for 13 years.  Currently he is president of Elemental Churches, a leadership development group devoted to helping churches become healthier and more effective. He is the author of Elemental Leaders and The Outward-focused Life.