We're in the midst of a communication revolution and you are a part of it.
Over the summer I polled you on how you use media in your daily life and we got great feedback and fascinating results. Of those who responded here are some interesting statistics:
- 90% of you receive the Lighthouse and, of those, 71% read it cover to cover every month. The most valued parts of the newsletter by readers are the Calendar of Events, this essay, and the Thank Yous, Birthdays, and Hospitalizations page.
- Reading the local paper is a pastime of people over 40. People under 40 rarely read newspapers.
- More than anything else (Television, Radio, Newspapers, etc.) you check your email daily and 77% of you have high speed internet at home.
- 35% of you have a Facebook account and, of respondents in their 20s, 100% have Facebook accounts.
So, given all this, here are some things we've done:
- We are going to start emailing out announcements on a weekly basis on Thursday mornings. If you aren't getting these emails, write Jan at ucth@ucth.org and let her know you want to be included.
- We have started a Facebook page at facebook.ucth.org and I encourage you to become a "fan."
The wonderful thing about this form of communication is that is driven by you. I don't want to talk to you; I want to talk with you. Already on our Facebook page we have polls, discussion topics, videos, pictures, and so on, and you can comment on any of these. You can leave messages on our Facebook wall and share what you are thinking.
The internet can be a place where we can stay in communication all week long and, I'm grateful to note, that several of our young adults who have grown up in the church but now live in far flung places have joined the site so that they can stay connected to their home church.
So, let's have a conversation and be reminded that the body of Christ is much bigger than those who gather in a sanctuary on a Sunday morning.
Yours,
Pastor Lawrence