"For the lover of words nothing is better than writing small," wrote John Underwood in "The Joy of Writing Small" in the March 2013 edition of The Writer. Cell phone texts, tweets on Twitter, and Facebook posts are also eminently suitable media for writing small.
Facebook has become the number-one social-media platform in the world, used by 665 million people. Facebook fosters personal relationships. People use Facebook to share updates about themselves and their families. Clubs, churches, and social groups post pictures of their get-togethers. People band together around their affinities and interests, and school, college, and neighborhood friendships are renewed.
Facebook is thus an excellent way to stay connected with the people in your congregation. Used wisely, interactions on Facebook have the potential to strengthen faith and increase our awareness of God's work in the world. Here are some ways for both new and experienced users to build connections and strengthen the church on Facebook:
* Join Facebook, if you are not already on it. Go to www.facebook.com.
* Join the Facebook group or Like the page of your church, presbytery, PC(USA), and relevant subgroups.
* Browse the News Feed on these pages. If you see the name of someone you would like to know better, send a friend request by clicking on the name and using the Add Friend button. You can also Search for the names of your friends, elders, mission partners, pastors, and church staff in the Search box at the top of your home page. Add them as friends. Once they accept, you will start seeing their updates in your news feed. Like their posts (status updates). Add encouraging comments. Facebook is an ongoing virtual party. Participate with scintillating small talk, staying authentic and true to yourself but remembering that we have a distinctive voice, the voice of Jesus Christ. Our presence on Facebook can strengthen our faith connections and heal our communities with the hope and joy of Christ.
* Post regular Status Updates of your own. They can be relational or informative, or even ask a question that builds community. What is happening that you'd like to share? Did a particular worship song touch you? Is the women's group starting a new Bible study? Status updates can be posted on your own page as well as on the Timelines of the church page/groups you have joined. Tag the update by using @name. Tagging increases participation. For example:
"I LOVED the "Build Your Kingdom Here" song that was introduced in worship this Sunday!"
"Pastor Barbara will be teaching women's Bible study, Sept. 26-Nov. 15, book of Ruth. All are welcome."
"@Bill birthday today and I am remembering, with much gratitude, the first time we served together on the homeless ministry @churchname."
* Use the Share button that is below every status update. If a friend, church, or other group posted something that is worthy of a wider audience, be generous and Share it. This is how conversations with old and new friends can become imaginatively aligned and relationships strengthened, forming a vibrant sense of community across space and time.
* Experienced users can create Pages or Groups. Pages are usually created for churches or ministries. Groups bring together people with mutual interests. For example, Women's Ministry and Youth Ministry would usually be Pages; Men's Softball Team, Book Club, Gardening are usually Groups. Recruit a team (two to five people) to share the administrative chores of posting photos, news, announcements, and inspirational items regularly, thinking of this also as ministry. Photos and creatively designed Photo Albums - of church staff at work, worship services, church conferences and retreats - are excellent ways to get people engaged and keep them interacting. Create themed albums and Tag the people in the photos and albums. (Before posting photos of children and youth, make sure you have the permission of parents.) One of the most popular photo albums I created was a series of the setting sun over the ocean, which I posted with the Phos Hilaron prayer (an ancient Christian prayer used in vespers); it gained me many new friends in the church!
* Events are another great way to create excitement and buzz. Rather than posting a status update that will show up only on one timeline, create an Event for open church get-togethers and meetings. Invite everybody and allow friends to invite their friends too, spreading the word to a wider audience.
By using open groups, public pages, and public events on Facebook, churches can change the nature of existing relationships, open new forms of ministry, and strengthen ties among members. They can reach out to the de-churched and un-churched in the community as well. By writing small on Facebook, we draw attention to God's activity in the church and beyond, helping to build Jesus' kingdom on earth.
Facebook Help is the best resource for step-by-step instructions on all of the tips suggested. Look up the bold words above in the FB Help Center.
Anita Coleman worships at Irvine Presbyterian Church, part of Los Ranchos Presbytery in Southern California. She is also the author of
Casa Charis: A Daybook of Freedom, a collection of 31 meditations on Galatians and Garden of Grace: A Daybook of Faith and Healing, a collection of 30 photo-reflections on Ephesians. Follow or friend her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/chariscol