Episode 15
Week 15 Without love its just noise
This week, we're diving into a powerful reminder that love should be at the heart of everything we do as church communicators. Drawing from First Corinthians 13:1-3, we explore how actions devoid of love are just empty noise, no matter how impressive they might seem. I share some heartfelt examples from my experiences, illustrating how genuine care and creativity can transform church communications into meaningful connections. Whether it’s a lovingly crafted bulletin or a welcoming gesture for newcomers, the essence of our work lies in how we express love through our messages. Join me as we reflect on the importance of infusing our communications with warmth and intention, ensuring that our words truly resonate with those we serve.
Takeaways:
- In this episode, we emphasize that love is essential in church communications, ensuring that our words resonate beyond mere noise.
- We reflect on how the mood and care of church communicators significantly impact the effectiveness of their messages.
- The importance of personalization in church bulletins is highlighted, showcasing how thoughtful touches can make recipients feel valued and loved.
- We discuss various creative expressions of love in church communications that foster community and connection among members and visitors.
- Listeners are encouraged to approach church communications with creativity and love to ensure their messages truly connect with people.
- The episode closes with a prayer, underscoring the call for divine support in enhancing our church communications with love and care.
Transcript
Week 15 Do all you do with love, or it's just noise
Our verses this week come from First Corinthians 13:1:3, where it says in the New Living Testament, "If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth, but didn't love others, I would only be made making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I had the gift of prophecy and if I knew all the mysteries of the future, knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love, I would be no good to anybody.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrifice my body, I could boast about it. But if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever."
Words without love are just noise, is Rick Warren's commentary on these verses from one of his messages in his 40 days of Community series. Though these words apply in every interaction we have in life, I think they're especially true in the world of church communicators.
I've often said in my seminars that I can tell when I look at a publication if the person who is doing it when was having a grumpy day or not. People often laugh, but it isn't a joke.
Who we are, the mood we're in, and how much we care for the people for whom we're creating the print or digital pieces comes across loud and clear in our church communications.
Some time ago, I looked at a sample of a church bulletin that was still produced on a typewriter and copied on a machine that had obviously seen better days.
The tiny church was very poor and it was the best they could manage, but it was clearly organized and was complete in the facts communicated the person doing it took time and care putting it together, but there was one more thing that she did that brought tears to my eyes. The church secretary hand collated each one of the bulletin pieces so that she could fold them in kind of an offset way.
And then on the top sheet she hand cut each page with a sort of scalloped scissors used for scrapbooking. She did that, she said, so that people would feel special when they got the bulletin.
I'm sure on some level people not only felt special, but they knew they were loved.
I've seen other examples of love in church communications in many ways.
I remember a church bulletin from a Greek Orthodox church where a retired lady in the church took time each week to research and then write little stories about the saints of the church so members would understand their heritage.
At a large church I visited in California, there was a table on the patio that had cards on it done up for all of the small groups in the church.
The cards described each group told that they were studying and invited newcomers to attend. They also included upbeat photos and maps, and the graphics and style were positive and welcoming.
Keeping a project like that current is a massive labor of love.
One of my favorite responses to visitors from a pastor in Canada whose welcoming letter included two free coupons for a latte and an invitation to "Latte with the Pastor," along with an encouragement to come and ask any question you'd like about God.
I've seen humorous expressions of love like the lady who tore the edges of announcements for ladies events and then scattered them on the floor because she told me the ladies in her congregation were very tidy and this would they would pick them up and read them. There are lots of ways to express love in your church communications. You know your people best.
Just create your church communications with creativity and love and your words will be much more than just noise.
Let me pray for you now,
Lord Jesus,
I just pray for all of these wonderful people listening that you would help them to translate the love that I know they feel that for their people into tangible things that they do in their communications.
Whether they make it easier to read or they do something in the layout or just whatever they might do, Lord, speak to them for how they can love the people you've given them. And Lord, as they're doing that, I pray that they would feel your love and your favor rest on them. In Jesus name, Amen.
