It's coming! St. Luke's first annual Social Media Sunday!
Bring your smartphone to church.
What is Social Media Sunday?
A grassroots organized Sunday when Christians share their faith on social media.
When is Social Media Sunday?
St. Luke's is doing SMS on October 30th. This is the third year for social media Sunday and the group has settled upon keeping the date as the last Sunday of September.
Who can participate?
Any follower of Jesus.
How do I participate?
Share your faith through posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube. Add the hashtag #SMS16 (and #Episcopal if you’re an Episcopalian).
When you say ‘share your faith’—what do you mean?
Listen for the good news of what God is doing in our lives and in others’ lives, and then celebrate and share it. That’s evangelism.
Does this happen only inside a worship service on Sunday? Heck, no.
A brief history
Friends on social media, two Episcopal moms in Connecticut and Missouri wondered if they could get more people to share church socially. They dreamed up a choosing a normal Sunday and filling the internet with posts about all that goes on in the life of the church. They chose a summer Sunday in 2014, but started the promotion of it almost a year in advance. We tagged all our posts with “#Episcopal” and it was a great success.
Last year the project went ecumenical, with wider participation from more denominations. The overall impact was greater in numbers.
So here we come to the third year, with an ongoing plan to aim for the last Sunday in each September. (St. Luke's will do the last Sunday in September in 2017.)
But what would we share?
Here is a beginning list of ideas to spark your own creativity.
Baking something special for coffee hour? How about a pic and recipe on Pinterest.
Were you warmly greeted? How about a selfie with that first smile you see as you cross the threshold.
“Check-in” to your location on Facebook.
Behind-the-scenes pics and info is of great interest to many. Are you vesting for your role? Tell us about those vestments in a short YouTube video.
Note to crucifers and acolytes, please get permission of your priest before strapping the go-pro camera to your staff.
Tweet a hymn refrain that makes your soul soar.
Use Twitter as a type of lectio divina with the Scripture readings. Is there a word or phrase that particularly speaks to you today? Share it on Twitter or Facebook.
Did you know there is a whole community conversation around sermons on Twitter? Use the hashtag #sermontweets to mark your contribution.
Is there a place in the sanctuary where your eyes often alight? Share a snap and a few lines about why.
Who are the unsung folks who keep the service running smoothly, maybe that guy who always fills the coffee pot just before coffee hour begins, or the altar guild member making things correct after everyone has gone to the parish hall. What is their story?
Who is the youngest there today? Who is the oldest? Who came from the greatest distance, and who lives the closest.
What’s the topic in today’s Spiritual Deepening & Fellowship?
Many of us have Sundays full of church, but not all on the church grounds. Where does your Sunday worship take you out in the world? Share a snap and a few lines.
Take a church group selfie. What, you don't know what that means? Read here.