WHAT'S NEW ON THE COMMBLOG | |
Wait, Facebook is Limiting Links Now? What Church Communicators Need to Know.
by Katie Clark
A few weeks ago, while scheduling Facebook posts for Caffeinated Church, I got a notification that made me stop in my tracks.
Apparently, I could only publish two posts containing external links per month.
Wait. TWO? Per MONTH?
For an organization that regularly shares workshops, resources, blog posts, and other helpful content, that's a problem. And for churches that rely on Facebook to connect people with worship schedules, event registrations, newsletters, and ministry opportunities, it could be an even bigger one.
So, what's happening, and what can we do about it?
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Realm User Group
Thursday, October 15 | 9:00 AM PT / 10:00 AM MT / 11:00 AM CT / 12:00 PM ET
Join us for a time of sharing, troubleshooting, and honing our Realm skills in support of our missions and ministries. Hosted by Janey Griggs Salazar, Administrative Assistant and Benefits Coordinator for the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
| | ADMINISTRATORS' CAFE ROUNDTABLE | |
Who Has the Password?
Tuesday, October 20 | 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET
The website login lives on a sticky note. The social media account is still under a volunteer who left in 2019. The church credit card is in three different Google Docs.
Every church has an access-and-accounts situation, and most of us are quietly managing it with duct tape and hope. Let's talk through how you track logins, hand off accounts when staff change, and keep things running without becoming the sole keeper of every password in the building.
| CHURCH COLLABORATION MEETING |
Small Church, Big Workload
Wednesday, November 4 | 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET
In many churches, one person may function as the communicator, administrator, tech support, designer, calendar manager, and event coordinator all at once. How do you decide what truly matters, simplify what no longer serves your ministry, and avoid burnout when resources are limited? This conversation will focus on practical ways to streamline work, set realistic expectations, and create healthier rhythms in small church settings.
| | CAFFEINATED CHURCH GATHERING | | |
Caffeinated Church Gathering:
A Day Centered on Creative Collaboration
Thursday, November 12 | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM PT / 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM MT / 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET
This hands-on intensive is designed to help you build a strong foundation in the essential skills communicators need today. Think of it as a practical, approachable Communications 101 course for churches.
Together, we'll explore graphic design, marketing and advertising, layout and publication design, website development, and the practical realities of communicating in small and mid-sized congregations.
| | ADMINISTRATORS' CAFE ROUNDTABLE | |
Saying No Without Feeling Like a Bad Christian
Tuesday, November 17 | 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET
"Can you just add one more thing to the bulletin?" "Could you also handle the raffle signup?"
Church culture doesn't always make it easy to decline a request, even when your plate is already full. How do you set boundaries with clergy, staff, and volunteers without it feeling like you're letting the ministry down? Come share what's worked, what hasn't, and how you talk yourself into saying no when you need to.
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Belonging Before Belief: What New Audience Research Means for Church Storytelling
Thursday, November 19 | 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET
Every newsletter, social post, and website update starts with the same question: who are we actually talking to? For most of us, the honest answer is the people who are already in the pews. But what about the ones who aren't?
New research takes a closer look at Gen Z, Millennial, and Latino/a audiences who may feel disconnected from institutional religion but are still open to spirituality. The findings challenge some familiar assumptions: a lack of church engagement doesn't necessarily mean a lack of spiritual appetite, and one of the biggest barriers may have less to do with belief than with whether people feel they can truly belong.
| | HELP SHAPE A NEW RESOURCE | |
Faith. Money. Freedom. Pilot Group
Thursdays, October 22, 29, & November 5 | 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 12:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM ET. Online via Zoom.
As Caffeinated Church expands in 2027 to include Stewardship and Evangelism alongside Communications and Administration, we are broadening the kinds of practical resources we offer. Stewardship for Life will focus specifically on personal finance—helping individuals explore their own relationship with money through the lens of faith. It will differ from the resources we are also developing for church stewardship campaigns, but it will also be grounded in the belief that conversations about generosity begin with our own money stories, values, choices, and experiences.
This fall, we’re inviting up to 20 people to help us test and shape one of the first Stewardship for Life resources: Faith. Money. Freedom. This faith and personal finance guidebook explores the relationship between our money stories, our values, our faith, and the lives we are building. Through practical exercises, conversation, prayer, and theological reflection, participants will consider their own financial lives—from saving and spending to generosity, relationships, enough, and the choices that shape the future.
Help us shape this new Stewardship for Life resource!
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Featured Resource:
Planning a church event is one thing. Keeping track of who's coming, sending reminders, and managing registrations? That's a whole other task.
Whether you're organizing a parish dinner, coordinating volunteers for a community event, or hosting a workshop, the right registration tool can make life a lot easier — for you and your attendees.
Our Online and In-Person Event Registration resource page on the Resource Hub explores a variety of tools, from simple, free options like Google Forms and SignUp to more robust platforms like Realm and Eventbrite. With practical descriptions and recommendations, it's a great place to start when you're looking for a simpler way to manage your next church event.
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This Week's Creative Prompt:
What's your most unexpectedly useful church communications tip?
Maybe you've figured out how to get better photos with your phone, discovered a shortcut that saves you 20 minutes every week, or found the magic words that actually get people to submit announcements on time. Big or small, share one little trick that makes your communications work easier. Someone else might be about to discover their new favorite timesaver.
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This Week's Refill & Rest:
Notice what you’re carrying. Church communicators often become the place where everyone else’s urgency lands. Before you automatically add one more thing to your list, ask: Is this actually mine to carry? Sometimes self-care looks like helping. Sometimes it looks like saying, “I can’t get that into this week’s newsletter.”
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