Friday, September 18, 2009

Convenant Celebrates Children’s Program Partnership

The Covenant Presbyterian Church in West Des Moines will celebrate and rededicate its partnership with Drake University’s Head Start and Early Head Start program during morning worship, Sunday, Sept. 27.

Five years ago, Covenant opened its doors and housed one class of 4- to 5-year olds and a parent advocate. Last year, Early Head Start’s toddler class of 2– to 3-year olds and Head Start’s home-based program teacher joined the Covenant-Head Start partnership. Now, on any given day, Covenant houses 60 children providing safe classrooms, playground, an indoor recess room, and a socialization room to enhance the bond between parent-child and to promote positive interactions. The Head Start programs are child-focused and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.

All are invited to join them at the 10:30 a.m. worship service, Sept. 27, Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1025 28th St., West Des Moines, IA, 50265.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Lunch & Learn Sessions are Winding Down for 2009

The Communications' Lunch & Learn Series is winding down for 2009. Many members of our Des Moines Presbytery congregations have benefitted from attending these informational communication workshops, held monthly on the third Thursday from Noon - 1 p.m. If you currently work at a church, either as a staff member, volunteer or lay leader, you are invited to join us this Thursday, Sept. 17. Bring your brown bag lunch to our Presbytery office at: 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, IA 50322. We’ll provide the beverages. The fee is FREE!

New option: Attend by Webconference and teleconference! If interested in this option, please call the Presbytery's Director of Communications Kim Coulter at 515-276-4991, to discuss whether your computer and phone are compatible. You'll then be given the passcode and login information in time for Thursday's Lunch & Learn Session.

This week's topic has been changed to "How to use Photographs in your Church Ministry". Participants are encouraged to bring questions, samples, and insights related to using pictures to tell your churches' stories or maybe using images in worship. In addition to the featured topic, there will be time to network and discuss off-topic items. Such as to share recent projects or accomplishments, or ask those “burning questions”.

2009 Dates and Topics:

September 17 – How to use Photographs in your Church Ministry
October 15 – Public Relations 101 – How to Get Church News Noticed
November 19 – Annual & Statistical Reports, Newsletters and E-announcements (bring samples)

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Communicators Learn about Google Tools

For the next few days the Presbyterian Communicators Network will be meeting in Eagan, Minn., for the Synod of Lakes and Prairies conference on Doing More with Less. There are nearly 40 of us: pastors, administrative assistants, lay volunteers, and communicators meeting here at the Hilton Garden Inn.

After introductions, we shared a devotion time with Synod of the Sun Director of Communications the Rev. Shane Whisler leading us. He shared with us U2 music and lyrics to dive into what is important to Christians. Shane used reflections from Greg Garrett's book, We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2, one of the world's well known bands, which has used lyrics from Bible scriptures like the song "40" from Psalms 40, 13, and 6.

When our meal was over, the Rev. Sarah Moore-Nokes, associate executive director from the Winnebago Presbytery, gave us a great glimpse at using Google Tools to simplify our personal and at work life. One thing I am excited to take home is the use of making iGoogle my desktop view or homepage when my Internet Browser is opened each day. This might even make a good Lunch & Learn session once I get acclimated to this tools. I currently use Docs, Reader, Calendar, Analytics and Search.

Tomorrow there will be training on the Presbyterian Neighbor News and the Presbyterian News Service and a session on Writing for the Web. Until then...


Kim Coulter,
Director of Communications