Technology for the Missional Presbytery

Part 1 - Four Groups and a Blog 

Groups -

• Earth Stewardship http://groups.google.com/group/upper-michigan-earth
• Poverty http://groups.google.com/group/upper-michigan-poverty
• Worship http://groups.google.com/group/upper-michigan-worship
• Presbytery http://groups.google.com/group/presbytery-of-mackinac 

Blog

• http://missionandministryinnorthernmichigan.blogspot.com/ 

What

Easy to use communication media to help the presbytery and its mission partners ‘be healthy for intentional mission.’

Why

This will add some ‘between-meetings’ communication.  This is also to get some forms of presbytery communication deeper into the churches and laterally with more partner organizations.

When

We’re ready to go.  Now is the time.

How

Follow these easy steps. 

1. If you don’t already have one, get a Google ID:

In your Internet browser, go to the Google home page, http://www.google.com/

Click ‘Sign In’ in the upper right hand corner

Click ‘Create an account now.’

Use your existing email address.

You will get an email from Google with a link to click to activate.

2. Once you’re signed in with Google, type in the first link you see at the top of this page: http://groups.google.com/group/upper-michigan-earth

3. Click ‘Join this group’ on the right side of the page.

4. Select one of the four options for ‘How do you want to join this group?’  For the time being you may wish to select the first option, ‘No Email.’

5. Type in a nickname that also indicates who you are, for example, ‘Elder John Smith, Clerk of Session, FPC/Newberry.’  Click ‘Join this group.’  That’s it! 

6. Now you can post a message letting folks know you are on the group and what your hopes are. 

7. You can also review the discussion messages already posted to the group.

8. Do the same for the other 3 groups listed at top.

9. Please upload a picture of yourself so we can connect names and faces.  To do that go to the Google home page and sign in if you are not already.  Click ‘more’ and in the pulldown list click ‘groups.’  Click in the lower right ‘view your full profile.’  Click ‘edit.’  Follow the instructions to upload a photo from your PC to use as your Groups Photo.

10. Come back regularly to check what’s going on in the groups.  You don’t need to be signed in with Google to read the groups, but you do to post messages.  When you sign in all the groups you belong to will be under ‘My Groups’ at the top, for easy navigation. 

If you are a pastor or a clerk of session, once you join these groups you will be sent via email an invitation to be an author on the blog missionandministryinnorthernmichigan.blogspot.com

Everyone can post comments on the blog missionandministryinnorthernmichigan.blogspot.com 
 

11. Check out the blog missionandministryinnorthernmichigan.blogspot.com  Have a look at the essays, comment on them.  To leave a comment you should sign in with your Google id first from the home page.  If you know of someone who should be an author on this blog, let us know. 
 

“Who is going to administer this?”

Not the person who is presenting it to you today.  Soon he’s just going to be a wide-eyed participant only.  A little bit down the road he would hope that the chairpersons of the appropriate presbytery committees would take over the running of these. 
 

“Besides Joining, Myself, Whom Do You Want Me to Tell About This?”

Please photocopy this sheet and distribute it at your church to

• Pastors
• Clerk of Session
• Mission Co-Chairs
• Worship Co-Chairs
• Any potential partner organizations in your community (e.g. mission stores, poverty relief organizations).

 Questions?  Comments?

Call Shannon (church secretary) or Pastor Scott at First Presbyterian/Escanaba, 906-786-2932. 

What’s Next?

You tell me!  How about, Part 2 – Videoconferencing for the Missional Presbytery