Announcing Our Brand New Website
Things are looking a little different around here! Today we launch our new church website. Same url (www.togetherweserve.org). Different look and feel. What’s behind the change? First off, like cars and clothes, website design has a way of evolving. There are new features and capabilities we can now take advantage of. All while freshening up our look.
Our website is now better able to keep up with everything we are doing–announce new events, share news, even enable “conversatons” within our community. Because our website is built using WordPress, not only will it be easier to update and maintain, but we’ll be able to support comments from viewers, very similar to what you may already be doing with Facebook or other blogs.
Now let’s take a brief “Top 10″ tour. As you click the links below, just remember to use your “back” button to return to this article. If you see anything you would like to improve upon, you can always email your webmaster from the link on the bottom of every page. We also welcome your feedback…just complete our brief survey by clicking this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6WCK7Q8
Take a Tour
1. Home Page. The home page is really designed for the first time visitor. Who are we as a faith community? What time is worship on Sunday? What might make this a place for me or my family? These are the answers we try to paint clearly and simply on the home page. All the navigational tools and links stay at your fingertips on every page in the website.
2. Sermons. You can easily find the archive of Sermons but clicking the link “Sermons” at the top of any page. If you prefer to print sermons for easier reading, simply click the title of the sermon. Once it is open on your screen, “right click” to print (press the right mouse button for a list of options, one of which will be to print).
3. Latest News. Every page contains a scrolling list of the five most recent news items. It’s easy to find out new things that are taking place within our community, or topics that are of interest.
4. Upcoming Events. The home page will feature 3-5 upcoming events of interest to the broader community. This is in addition to the more detailed calendar–it makes it easier to check out what’s happening at church. You can also see the entire list of featured events in the News & Events section. Want to promote your event? Contact Kathleen McCalla or Martha Olsen Joyce (details below).
5. Add a Comment. You may encounter boxes labeled “Add Comment” at the bottom of certain pages — Pastor’s Blog, News, and Events. By commenting, you are initiating a “conversation” with the person who posted the article, but also with other readers. Give it a try. Keep in mind that all comments are viewable by everyone, they are not private. Also, your comment might not appear immediately; if it is your first time commenting you will need to be approved by the moderator (this helps keep the riff-raff such as advertisers from misusing our website).
6. Service. We’ve made it easier to find out about various service projects, including what’s involved and who to contact to learn more. In the future, we will take sign-ups online!
7. Get Involved. This “new and improved” section makes it easier to get involved in small groups, Bible studies, or fellowship opportunities including dates and contacts.
8. Search. There is a search button on every page and it works! Maybe you are looking for that sermon that said something powerful about life choices, but all you can vaguely remember is a Harry Potter metaphor. Type “harry potter” in the search box and you’ll be taken to Joanne’s sermon entitled “Choose this Day.”
9. Kensington Press. You can find the most recent Kensington Press in the News and Events section, or use the Quick Link that you will find at the bottom of every page on the website. You can read it online, or print to your home computer.
10. Church Map & Walking Tour. In the “Contact Us” section you will find a link to a map of our campus as well as a fascinating walking tour guide.
Thank you for taking a moment to take the tour and familiarize yourself with our new website. We hope that the website becomes an extension of our community and our life of faith, with information and resources that keep you connected beyond Sunday morning. And don’t forget to take a moment to complete a brief online survey so we can know how we are doing and quickly address any questions or comments. Simply click this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6WCK7Q8
Anne Towler
Mon 09th Jan 2012 at 6:07 pm
Fantastic, Martha!! I’m so proud of all of us. I had an idea: we could have a “Word of the Week” startig with Diana’s work from her children’s sermon. The word I don’t remember meaning sprinkling water on believers to show God’s love. What was that word? I’ll ask Diana. Thanks for all your hard work.
Anne
Martha Joyce
Mon 09th Jan 2012 at 6:16 pm
Thank you Anne, I like the Word of the Week idea!
Vivian Volz
Tue 10th Jan 2012 at 7:32 pm
I like that idea, too! And the word is “asperge.”
Fabulous work!
Diana Bell
Thu 12th Jan 2012 at 4:10 pm
Well done pulling out the word like that, Vivian!
@Anne,
Interesting idea…word for the week…I wonder if that could be part of my/our pastor’s blog? Part of a children page like Joan suggests (below)? Might it be something like a worship response where people comment on what touched them, suggest a word or thought from the service they want to discuss, or ask for clarification? (kind of like what we’re doing here) You think folks would tune in?
Jen Epstein
Tue 10th Jan 2012 at 5:49 am
This is EXCELLENT! Thank you Martha!
Vivian Volz
Tue 10th Jan 2012 at 7:33 pm
I am hunting for how to get an RSS feed of the page (or the news portion) on my reader. Is that possible?
With or without, this site is so accessible now! Thank you!
Martha Joyce
Tue 10th Jan 2012 at 7:48 pm
Yes, it’s possible…on the list for Phase 2. Keep those ideas coming.
Vivian Volz
Tue 10th Jan 2012 at 8:19 pm
Thanks!
Marci Duys
Tue 10th Jan 2012 at 10:20 pm
Wonderful!!!! Great work!!!
Joan flood
Thu 12th Jan 2012 at 5:27 am
This is great, Martha! I’m wondering if there is a way to include some information relavant to our younger “saints”. Our Godly Play Sunday School curriculum is very much based on the experience of the story told that morning, but maybe there is some way to reach out to the parents and kids who were not able to get to church on any given Sunday. Perhaps making the material in the Children’s pew packet available or …?
Diana Bell
Thu 12th Jan 2012 at 4:04 pm
Love this idea, Joan! Yes, and what if our teachers blogged after Sunday School and shared their observations and stories. I know you and others have had such heart-warming experiences. It would be a gift to share them with the rest of the community.
As for actual, “here’s what you missed,” I’m open to how that might occur. We could give the day’s Godly Play scripture passage, but we’d need to check on the worship packet copyright. What are your (and others’) thoughts?
Royce Truex
Thu 12th Jan 2012 at 7:06 pm
Thanks, Martha. Good work, as usual, and a clear improvement over the previous site, but I suspect you won’t be surprised that I do have a couple of suggestions you might consider.
It was hard for me to find Joanne’s blog. I would have preferred there to be a direct link on the home page. I’m thinking that new folks visiting the site might be drawn to that.
There has been an effort to invite community people to volunteer at the Shelter this year. A direct link, or at least some more obvious expression of that invitation would be good, IMHO
On one the sliding panels, I suggest the words – or the idea – bring your doubts, uncertainty and questions to add to ours.
And on the TWS panel, Come serve with us.
Martha Joyce
Sun 15th Jan 2012 at 9:20 am
Hi Royce…you will now see Pastor’s Blog in the main menu. I’ve changed one of the sliders, and still working on one of your ideas. The Shelter page direct link is also in the works. Thank you!
Lindsey McLorg
Mon 06th Feb 2012 at 12:35 pm
Hi Martha,
I have just taken my first tour of the new and improved http://www.togetherweserve.org and am VERY impressed. I too have a request for adding a link under the Community we serve to include http://www.tamhouse.org – Ross Valley Ecumenical Housing Organization feels very included in the outreach of 1st Pres!
With thanks and great appreciation!
Lindsey