It may only be July but it is time to start preparing for Christmas already.
Once again the Synod Communication Services Unit will produce high quality, low cost Christmas postcards for congregations throughout Queensland.
But this year we want your help deciding on the theme!
We are looking for a positive, innovative, and poignant message to encourage people to explore the true meaning of Christmas and to invite them to attend their local Uniting Church during the Christmas season.
Here are the themes from the last four years (click to enlarge and see both sides of the card):
2008
2006
2007
2005
If your contribution is the winning idea you will receive one starter pack (3,000 postcards and 30 posters) to be given to the congregation of your choice.
So start getting creative and tell us your slogans for the 2009 card!
Mardi
Terms and Conditions
- The Communication Services Unit reserves the right to modify the ideas sent in.
- If the final wording/slogan of the postcard is remarkably similar to an idea posted the original author will receive the prize.
- If the same or similar ideas are received the prize will be awarded to the person who posted the idea first.
- Entries need to be submitted before Monday the 10th of August.
on Jul 1st, 2009 at 11:00 am
Hi Mardi,
Well, I have been busy looking online for lots of ideas for the 2009 Christmas postcard- which I will post the links to so everyone can see them and let us know what they think.
Church Advertising Network: http://www.churchads.org.uk
This Organisation provides a Christmas campaign each year with downloads and resources all designed to help churches grow their congregations.
Their 2009 campaign is ‘CHRISTMAS STARTS WITH CHRIST’ (clever word play!)
http://www.churchads.org.uk/live/index.html
Also worth noting is their controversial Easter 1999 Campaign ‘MEEK. MILD. AS IF.’ http://www.churchads.org.uk/past/1999/index.html
With the Chuch Advertising Networks comment : “Jesus was not crucified for being meek and mild. He challenged authority. He was given a crown of thorns in a cruel parody of his claims about proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Our poster has the most arresting picture our advertisers could find to convey all this – the image deliberately imitates the style of the well-known poster of Che Guevara.”
on Jul 1st, 2009 at 11:17 am
More… (Keeping in mind we cannot copy these directly, they are to get ideas stirring and for inspiration…)
Church Marketing Solutions have a few interesting ideas, visit
http://www.church-marketing.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=80
There is one postcard that has a picture of a computer screen with the drop down menu containing options such as “Laughter, Insight, Help in Hard Times, Spiritual Growth and New Friends”.
One worth noting is the one with the television screen reading “Larger than Life”. The back talks about after we get presents, that ‘thing’ we have been wanting, we simply move on to the next ‘thing’. An ancient thinker once called this our “God-shaped void” and asking us if we have considered filling this void with… God?
I think it is a really relevant message right now, relating to our concerns with consumerism, the environment and the economy- What do you think?
on Jul 1st, 2009 at 11:35 am
An Easter campaign that I think is quite good, has a picture of couch, with a small pile of easter eggs on one seat and it reads “We are saving a seat for you this Easter”. I think it is nice to have quite a personalised message, directed at the viewer. See http://www.truthadvertising.org/easter_mailers.php
on Jul 1st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Uniting Church SA have their previous postcard designs online at : http://presbyterysynod.sa.uca.org.au/communications-and-pr/postcard-campaigns.html
“See Christmas in a new light” brings a few ideas to my head, using tangled up Christmas lights as an image as an example…
I think that “Hungry for More”, used for an Easter campaign, could be easily used with a Christmas theme as well.
on Jul 8th, 2009 at 10:07 am
“It’s not so important what you put under the tree, but what you carry into the future…. And its nice to know that doesn’t rely on the economy.”
on Jul 13th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Here are some to ponder:
Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind.
Christmas: the season to be jollyis also a good time to think about those who aren’t.
Jesus, the best Christmas gift of all.
Even before Christmas has said ‘Hello’, it’s saying ‘Buy Buy’.
Christmas: not so much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.
Love was born at Christmas.
on Jul 16th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Hi there. We have begun to discuss up here in Central Qld some ecumenical ways to work together at Christmas and have come up with a concept of using the word ‘presence’ as a sort of central focus. We are happy to offer some suggestions to the Journey team for further development.
Some ideas so far – ‘Give those you love your presence this Christmas; Give the gift of your presence in Church this Christmas’; ‘Wrap up your presence this Christmas’; Visit a Church this Christmas and find God’s presence’.
Maybe the associated image (being a little biased) could be of a set of traditional small country church doors being opened.
on Jul 23rd, 2009 at 9:04 am
Great ideas! Presence definitely opens up some possibilities…
‘Share your Christmas presence’
‘Crave more presence’
‘Get more presence’
on Jul 26th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
All I want for Christmas is………… perhaps using part of a Christmas song well known. Maybe Jesus with open arms… ‘you’. An Israeli Jesus not white skinned blue eyed one. He being rugged dark in a mist. Could have some baubles around one corner of card.
This is an old one ‘he is the reason for the season’
‘one man who changed the world’
A theme around the 3 wise men or theme around shepherds watching their flocks at night
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Give life.
The Gift…
Batteries not required…
Give til it hurts…God did
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
So this is Christmas…
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Close encounter of the GOD kind.
Make room this Christmas
What’s the big deal?
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
How about simply, “Christmas is about Presence”. It may be too subtle for some, but the picture of a child in a manger and a present juxtaposed might help. Could also have “God with us” subtly on the present’s tag or in faded writing in the background. Did I win??
Oldie but goodie, “Wise men still seek him.”
Why don’t we avoid the ‘corny’ pun and simply say something like, ‘We’d love to invite you to worship with us this Christmas”, “Join in worship this Christmas.”
What about a picture of an angry guy with the quote, “You forgot my birthday this year, don’t forget his!” Who could the angry guy be?? Kevin Rudd? Now I’m just going silly.
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Christmas – Living Hope!
Barn Boy born to Build Bridges!
And then???
And your point is?
Still thinking about the graphics that might accompany these?
on Jul 30th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Christ is the X factor of hope in Xmas!
Christ is the X factor of healing in Xmas!
Christ is the X factor of freedom in Xmas!
on Aug 4th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Christmas – back to basics.
on Aug 20th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Thanks for all of the great ideas!
We are currently coming up with the imagery and designing the postcards and posters and will keep you up to date with any developments.
See the September edition of Journey for the chosen theme!!