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Winter is coming. And so is Christmas. We always strive to work ahead of schedule when it comes to series planning, but this year at Granger, we were planning Christmas pretty close to our printing deadlines. Hey, life happens.

Our Communications Team’s challenge? We knew that this year music would feature heavily in the series and that we were going to have a big band for some of the weekends. We wanted something that evoked the class and elegance of the big band era, and the smooth, art-deco feel of a classic like The Great Gatsby. As with every series, our graphic designers brainstormed together and then worked on several concepts to submit to the Lead Team. Since getting the green light on the one they chose, we’ve been hard at work plugging that look and feel into every media outlet and print vehicle—and at Christmas, there are a lot!

Here’s a sneak peek at a few samples of pieces we’re producing for Christmas 2014:

• Christmas Series Piece
• Christmas Offering Piece
• Christmas Eve Tickets

We hope you enjoyed a peek behind the scenes from the Communications Team here at Granger. We know all you busy elves are hard at work preparing for Christmas too, getting ready to tell a Story that gives us all reason to celebrate!

I admit it. Sometimes I’d like to vent and spew my opinions—without my name. After all, it’s easier. No one can challenge me. No one can offer a rebuttal. It’s a lot easier to be anonymous. And it’s also more cowardly.

Several times a month I read anonymous comments from someone who attended a service at our church. Often the comments are prayers for a friend or family member. That’s okay. No harm done. Although I’d love to pray with more specificity. And it’s impossible for us to reach out to an anonymous person to offer support. It’s a bummer, but we still pray.

However, the stabbing, unkind, self-righteous, all-knowing criticisms and complaints that come from Mr. or Ms. Anonymous demonstrate a lack of willingness to dialog and a spineless mockery of courage. Most every time, these anonymous commenters, by their very content, reveal they are “insiders,” “Christians,” people who regularly attend worship services.

Continue reading on Mark’s Blog...

Church of Saint Anne, Israel

After worship last night I spoke with some young adults who asked me if they could ask me something.

“Sure, ask away.”

“Why do you think so many people our parents’ age are here?”

I was their parents’ age, so I replied, “I’m old enough to be your dad. Why do you think I’m here?”

“It’s your job?”

“Besides that.”

“I don’t know,” one said.“It just seems like there are a lot of young people here; and there are a lot of people my mom’s age here; and I don’t get that because people my mom’s age dream about church like it was in the old days.”

“The old days?”

“You know what I mean,” she said, “Old people want the ‘good old days’ more than these days. My mom talks about “the good old days’ like she’d go back there if she could.”

“Does she come to worship here?”

“No. My parents don’t live here.”

I said, “I think a lot of people your parents’ age aren’t old because they’re old; they’re old because they don’t dream anymore. Everyone gets old when they stop dreaming. They don’t stop dreaming when they get old; they get old when they stop dreaming. I think GCC is filled with people your age, and your parents’ age, because we’re all dreaming about doing something great for GOD. Young or old, the people who like GCC tend to be people dreaming GOD’s dream for tomorrow.”

Continue reading on Mark’s Blog...

Courtesy Netflix

You can always tell when the script is being used. You know what I mean. You’re engaged in lively conversation over a meal and your server interrupts with the scripted dessert monologue. Or your talking with customer service on the phone and you don’t feel heard at all, because the same script is repeated over and over regardless what you say.

I hate the script. It’s annoying and sad. Annoying, because I feel insulted. Sad, because the service representative isn’t empowered to think and interact like a person.

Netflix customer service rep Michael wrote his own script. Maybe you heard about it. If not, I’ll brief you. (If you already know about this, you’re already this far into my post—you might as well finish it out. Humor me.)

Customer Norm entered an online chat to find a solution for a non-stop, repeating cycle of Parks and Recreation. He got more than a chat. He was welcomed into a conversation with “Captain Mike of the Good Ship Netflix.” Norm played along and introduced himself as Lt. Norm. Here’s a portion of their chat:

Continue reading on Mark’s Blog...

by Mark Waltz, Executive Pastor

We’ve done some informal surveys and discovered that when people decide to go to church for the first time, or they decide to go to church again after years of not attending anywhere, they often do so with a fair amount of fear. They have not-so-fond memories, or they’ve heard stuff through popular media, and they enter our church—or any church—with a fair amount of hesitation, even fear.

• How will I know where to go?
• Will they ask for my money?
• How will I know when to sit, stand or kneel?
• Will I be the only “normal” person there?

We want every person who decides to attend our church—especially those filled with fear and apprehension—to feel “at home," welcome and accepted. We want them to know we expected them; we’ve prepared for them.

Remember: we want our guests to feel “at home.” We want them to experience “familiar.” We want them to be able to drop guards and fears that keep them from experiencing the wonder of God’s love through the message of Jesus Christ.

Continue reading on Mark’s blog...

Article adapted from How to Wow Your Church Guests: 101 Ways to Make a Meaningful First Impression.

Don’t worry. It’s not you. It’s us. And it’s all good.

We wanted to let you know we’re doing something that may seem crazy at first glance: We’re cancelling Innovate for this fall.

It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but it’s the right one. We realized with the launch of some exciting new initiatives for our Granger audience, we could not bring the focus, energy and effort it takes to provide you with the very best Innovate experience. And we don’t want you to have anything less than the best.

So we’re bypassing the Innovate Conference this year so that our teams can ruthlessly focus on our number one priority—serving our Granger Community Church audience by helping them take their next steps toward Christ.

If you purchased a ticket to Innovate you’ll be receiving a refund shortly. If you bought a plane ticket let us know by emailing info@wiredchurches.com and we will reimburse you for the cancellation fee.

We believe the local church (that’s you) is the hope of the world. We are committed to helping you by offering specific and practical tools and training that will take your ministry to the next level. Check out our free webinars and high-quality materials online at WiredChurches.com.

Still on the fence about registering your team for Innovate this year? We think you’ll get the training and information you need to up your game and take your ministry impact to a new level. But don’t just take our word for it. Watch the main sessions from 2013 and see for yourself what it’s all about. All four full-length main sessions are available on-demand. Just press play on the video below:

Seen enough? Ready to pull the trigger? Good news: Early-Bird pricing is available for three more days! Register your team today and beat the September 14 deadline.

We can’t innovate alone. There are going to be some incredible partners with all kinds of tools to help take your ministry to the next level at this year’s conference experience.

Here’s the list of institutions who have already committed to making Innovate 2014 the best yet:

The Innovate Conference is always looking to partner with great people, companies and organizations. Not only to help offset the cost to attend the conference, but also to provide valuable options to attendees during the conference. Check out the multiple ways you can become a partner.