Thanksgiving and Advent are almost here. You still have time to cook and shop, but what about getting your church website ready for these holidays? Here are Thanksgiving ideas for your church site and Advent content suggestions to get you started.

Every fall brings football, changing leaves and a spike in searches for Veterans Day Prayers. This year I’ve expanded my Veterans Day Prayers list to include even more prayers and some Veterans Day videos. If you have a favorite prayer or video for the list, please add it so we honor those whose sacrifices preserve our freedom to have an open, public discussion about religion.

When my boys’ school called to announce an early close because of snow, two thoughts came to mind:

1. Why are you closing over a couple of inches snow? (The former New Englander in me)
2. If my church closes, we can put our Twitter account to good use.

My parish soon canceled that evening’s events. Here’s how we got the word out quickly online to parishioners.

I called the parish office to find out a status update. (Ideally someone on staff should be on point to initiate such messages.) We then sent the word out through these channels:

• Home page
• Church Twitter account, @StCharlesChurch (See tweet)
• The parish’s breaking news email list, one of the 3 email newsletters every church should publish. (See message)
  • We used a descriptive subject line, Office Closed, Activities Canceled for Wed., 1/28. Recipients didn’t even have to read the body to get the gist, particularly since everyone already knew it was snowing.
• Parish online calendar (See entry)

One channel we missed was the outgoing message on the parish office’s voicemail. Alas, the phones fall outside of my Web Ministry, but I’ve made the recommendation.

Update – December 2009: If Mass or a church service could be impacted, link to your diocesan policy and provide info to a local televised Mass if available.

So that’s how St. Charles does it. What works at your church for sending out short messages quickly?

Looking for techy gifts and gadgets for the geek who runs your church’s website? Say thank-you with one of these top ten and you just might have a prayer of getting your next feature request moved to the front of the queue.

 

1) Google Chrome-Themed Beanbag Chair

Your church webmaster can connect with the youth group while slouching in this colorful beanbag chair without losing the techy cred that comes with using an alternative browser.

 

2) I’m Following You…to Coffee & Doughnuts

Even if your loner coder doesn’t have opportunity to meet with flesh-and-blood friends or parishioners, that’s no need to miss out on the warmth of true friends that comes from holding a hot cup of coffee, especially in a mug adorned with the avatars of virtual friends. Gift one of these Twitter mugs and you’re sure to receive a direct message of thanks.

Suggested by @ValerieStevens

 

3) Linux Nativity Set

Imagine the smiles when your webmaster Tux in the Baby Jesus for a good night sleep on Christmas. A stable OS is possible with the Linux-inspired Penguin Nativity Set.

 

4) C-3PO USB Drive

Your webmaster might not be able to answer the question, R2-D2, where are you?, but there’ll be no question as to where your church’s data is backed up with this handy Star Wars-themed USB thumb drive.

 

5) Log Pillow and Lap Protector

All-night coding with a sizzling laptop on your thighs is asking for trouble. Help your programmer keep cool with these log pillows that leave room for the Holy Spirit between a geek’s Macbook and crotch.

 

6) Leggo my Watcho

 

Your church webmaster will never be late for a web team meeting again when sporting a Star Wars Lego Watch. This accessory goes with any mismatched outfit while adding a touch of sci-fi style and DIY flair.

 

7) Life Begins at Confection

Give your pro-life programmer (or 2001 fanboy) a festive fetal treat that says all life is sweet.

 

8) A Tweet in the Desert

Your HTML addict can’t always remember to tend to houseplants when the pastor is insisting on updates to the sermon page. But through the DIY Plant Twitter kit, those ferns can simply tweet a reminder when the soil starts to get dry.

 

9) Concordance

 

The apostles may have been of one a-cord, but your church webmaster has too many of them. Mark them with these seals and keep the lines to God organized.

 

 

10) Let My People Glow

Not enough plugs by the baptismal font to run the laptop, camcorder and lights while trying to recharge an iPhone?  This miracle devicemultiplies the outlets and USB ports so everyone can get energy according to their needs.

 

Need more ideas? If your webmaster is a hardcore developer, try gift ideas from Smashing Magazine. Or as you might have guessed from my header, the Atari 2600 is always a good choice. So, what gift would work for your favorite church webmaster?