tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784827004460153582024-03-05T00:59:58.341-08:00Fr. Conor's ThoughtsA place where I record the various musings that pop into my head. 2024 brought about the importance of storytelling.Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-69062972638474094212024-02-29T18:10:00.000-08:002024-02-29T18:14:38.374-08:00What’s In Store For The Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZhDCrEJzEm5mYFtyU42fhAzZHP7OHITNXsJ7FNd3cBMBD-UNuovaaCfCyAi9lUeQh-vOXUuHWo9REuB7eWl9XImEB0XWz3b8aveJc9LvPVcfYudTxt7_1o7q2ePYH7qtQb4TOl_6GyV9uwvPwF7D0OOsIQcF9hQSXlVFYpO2VsMZ0F8BhHbxvJacJ6wu/s1080/Pulpit.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZhDCrEJzEm5mYFtyU42fhAzZHP7OHITNXsJ7FNd3cBMBD-UNuovaaCfCyAi9lUeQh-vOXUuHWo9REuB7eWl9XImEB0XWz3b8aveJc9LvPVcfYudTxt7_1o7q2ePYH7qtQb4TOl_6GyV9uwvPwF7D0OOsIQcF9hQSXlVFYpO2VsMZ0F8BhHbxvJacJ6wu/s320/Pulpit.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I have some supply work this coming Sunday, and I’m excited to be in a pulpit again. The OT text is God’s promise to Abraham - how he was to become the father of many nations - that his descendants would be more numerous than the sands on the seashore or the stars in the heavens. That’s a lot of people. <div>God made this promise so that Abraham’s offspring would be a blessing to the world. Because of the Jewish people we have a great deal of Scripture, and a moral consciousness that raised the world to new levels. </div><div><br /></div><div>What strikes me about this promise is how many people are involved. God counted on Abraham having so many descendents that they couldn’t be counted. This many people created a critical mass that influenced the rest of the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today in the Church we need another another critical mass. We need a critical mass of people willing to tell their faith stories. We need so many faith stories out there in the public space, to influence people in a positive, respectful way. To do so will raise the moral consciousness of this world to a new level. </div><div>That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. I want to equip you and others like you to tell your stories and make a positive impact on this world. So far I’ve been able to launch a free Guide To Christian Storytelling, which provides frameworks to help you craft your stories. Now I’m working on a 5 Day Facebook Challenge to give you live instruction and coaching on your stories. Future plans include trainer training, and a whole Church program, to make storytelling an integral part of your parish.</div><div> </div><div>I’m doing this because I believe it will make a difference. God is the greatest source of goodness in this world, and more people need to connect with that goodness. Will you join me? Please download my <a href="https://mailchi.mp/1706aeec95b5/free-guide-to-christian-storytelling?fbclid=IwAR3InAo2XcEri6uJcHOaD_2OXL-J9H2LXDyKeZglPIGGPtHCMyqi-Sf5jx8" target="_blank">free guide</a> and follow my emails and Facebook page so you don’t miss a thing. </div>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-33026947979812858452024-02-07T18:41:00.000-08:002024-02-07T18:41:55.299-08:00Hook, Story, Offer - Internet Work Gives Some Immediate Feedback<p> It's been an exciting week. Just yesterday I released my <a href="https://mailchi.mp/1706aeec95b5/free-guide-to-christian-storytelling?fbclid=IwAR3InAo2XcEri6uJcHOaD_2OXL-J9H2LXDyKeZglPIGGPtHCMyqi-Sf5jx8">Free Guide To Christian Storytelling</a>. I was able to set up a landing page in Mail Chimp, and people are able to obtain a copy in exchange for their email address. According to the marketing books I've been reading, an email list is the most valuable thing you own, because you can always connect with past and potential customers.</p><p>At the same time, I've managed to entice five people so far. Not bad for a few days but I do want a much larger list. A larger list means I'm helping more people, and more people are interested in this particular ministry. </p><p>Thinking back to what I've learned over the past two months, any internet offer comes down to a Hook, a Story, and an Offer. The hook grabs people's attention, the story engages on an emotional level, and the offer is the actual resource you're providing. When I looked at my first landing page, I realized it was all offer, no hook, and not really a story. Despite my recent learning, I have a ways to go if I want to be good at this. My first refinement was to adjust the headline to make a more compelling hook. Now instead of "Free Guide to Christian Storytelling," it reads, "Evangelism That Respects Dignity." I think it's important to work things that way because 1 - it's exactly what storytelling does, and 2 - it addresses the hopes and fears of the people I"m trying to reach.</p><p>I've been reminded lately at how much I love the Church, and how much I want to see it grow. Growth means more people are being impacted by the greatest story ever told. Growth means more people are having an encounter with perfect goodness. It is one reliable metric. Unfortunately by most accounts, The Episcopal Church has been falling short.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_2_BR1ww6z1i7T5jg508UTL-eiLi4hirFl_wYqztpzenu4DovUHs-y_6mTfpm6Qz8-mR9tWWr_OuFb5EOIe_gxJDZk9nxj9xcDDuyrOC1YrWaxU7yGLchbnjkxyCP7O-ny97jid7YVOQGd1Lgx780jKGOgA-UcjQ4kcldczsCzje78hYmyCw9I3ZdXxm/s596/Puzzle%20Meme%20Many.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="596" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_2_BR1ww6z1i7T5jg508UTL-eiLi4hirFl_wYqztpzenu4DovUHs-y_6mTfpm6Qz8-mR9tWWr_OuFb5EOIe_gxJDZk9nxj9xcDDuyrOC1YrWaxU7yGLchbnjkxyCP7O-ny97jid7YVOQGd1Lgx780jKGOgA-UcjQ4kcldczsCzje78hYmyCw9I3ZdXxm/s320/Puzzle%20Meme%20Many.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>At the same time, there is a deep desire amongst many to share Jesus with the people in their lives. I am convinced that the best way to do that is through storytelling. Each story shares one piece of the puzzle, so little by little, someone gets a clearer picture of what ultimate goodness truly is. As these puzzle pieces come together, they are touched by that goodness as well.<p></p><p>But to make that difference I need to get the word out. <a href="https://mailchi.mp/1706aeec95b5/free-guide-to-christian-storytelling?fbclid=IwAR3InAo2XcEri6uJcHOaD_2OXL-J9H2LXDyKeZglPIGGPtHCMyqi-Sf5jx8">The Free Guide</a> is only a beginning. I have in mind to do internet challenges, possible live events, trainer training, and even a whole Church program. As more people engage I hope to see this ministry grow into it's full potential. To get there, I'm going to work on improving my Hook, Story, and Offer.</p><p>You can help too. I'm really grateful for everyone who reads my blog. To make an impact, all you need to do is share my posts, especially the Guide To Christian Storytelling. As we reach more people that means the art of Christian Storytelling will grow, and more good news will be shared in the world. Can you help with that? If so just share this link.</p><p>Thank you so much for reading and supporting this ministry. Please download your own <a href="https://mailchi.mp/1706aeec95b5/free-guide-to-christian-storytelling?fbclid=IwAR3InAo2XcEri6uJcHOaD_2OXL-J9H2LXDyKeZglPIGGPtHCMyqi-Sf5jx8">guide</a>, and make sure to tell your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-65547455130743884292024-01-30T18:00:00.000-08:002024-01-30T18:00:57.835-08:00What I'm Learning On This Journey<p>Still waiting on my new driver's license. Perhaps tomorrow I'll take my expired passport to the Post Office to see about the PO Box. That way I can finally get my email system up and running.</p><p>Throughout this journey I've certainly learned a lot. Between three books by Russel Brunson, several webinars, and a focussed way of looking at Social Media I've been gaining some new skills. Just six months ago I wouldn't have known how to set up a landing page for an email list, and then develop an automatic sequence to welcome the new person into this online community. But now I have a pretty good idea on how to do it.</p><p>I was reading through another parish profile today, and saw how one of their goals was to increase communication both within the Church and the wider community. Heck, that's exactly what I've been learning how to do since December. I'm scarcely six weeks into this project and I've gained some new skills that I think would really benefit a parish.</p><p>And the journey continues. Aside from this work I've been plugging along in my tax training, and enjoying a new pastime with my son. He decided he likes going to basketball games, so we've spent a few hours each evening at his school whenever the big kids are playing. Now if I could only impress upon him good sportsmanship from the stands - but that's another story.</p><p>But life is still happening and I'm sure my calling will come into its next phase before too long. Until then I'll keep doing what I'm doing.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-82239004763556174852024-01-29T18:52:00.000-08:002024-01-29T18:52:40.725-08:00Days Out and Marching Along<p>Saturday I started some seasonal work. Just like when I was in seminary, I took a part time job working for Jackson Hewitt doing tax preparation. It had some mixed feelings. On the one hand it felt good to put on a tie and go into an office again. As much as I enjoy my various interests, I find sitting at home pretty agitating - especially when I'm not financially contributing to my family. At the same time there's this nagging feeling that it's not what I'm supposed to be doing. I am a minister of Word and Sacrament and haven't found a place to exercise that ministry yet.</p><p>The storytelling ministry continues to march along. I'm at the point where I'm waiting for a few moving pieces to come together. After trying out a few different options for an email list and distributing my free resource, I settled on Mail Chimp. It's pretty easy, user friendly, and even has a free version. Even as I scale it's not going to cost me hundreds of dollars every month. It even has landing pages where I can trade email addresses in exchange for my Guide To Christian Storytelling.</p><p>The only thing holding me back at this point is a feature meant to deter spammers. Every Mail Chimp account requires a mailing address at the bottom of the emails. I guess their reasoning is that if you're a fly by night scammer you won't want your personal details doxxed by every email. I'm trying to run a legit ministry but I still don't want my home address broadcast with everything I send out. All it takes is one ... So I set up a Post Office Box and just need to activate it. Of course to do so I need a picture ID. Since I switched my driver's license to NJ last week, I'm still waiting for my new ID to come in the mail. (Sigh) It's going to get there.</p><p>So I have a few things going on, and I'm excited for both. I can't wait to get the email list really up and running so I can move on to my next phase. One the Free Guide is released I'll be setting up a Storytelling Challenge on Facebook. Let's see how many people I can get to participate. It will definitely be something new.</p><p>Well it's been a long day so time to sign off. Make sure you tell your stories and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Parish.Development.Ministries">Facebook Page</a> so you know when the new stuff is released.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-60777935554035815902024-01-28T18:52:00.000-08:002024-01-28T18:53:42.054-08:00Snow Delays and Unexpected Grace<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPIAVF2jXg7_Mtkxltyqb01v7LMDY3uqtDInmUG-Y3Gz_Dktgp-YKpj-zow7t66PVpeENuELnOmWDNZdixnwpIblAWT_6XYmpWfz0cRzYjODDTzGqNlzpfBnPDvOo2_oCuyHdcmCKE7rhHzpeLQnbAm0RRdtnxUoTtWPW200yCYpRcWvKw6qQ_uvCwS-v/s1736/IMG_0873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1736" data-original-width="1170" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPIAVF2jXg7_Mtkxltyqb01v7LMDY3uqtDInmUG-Y3Gz_Dktgp-YKpj-zow7t66PVpeENuELnOmWDNZdixnwpIblAWT_6XYmpWfz0cRzYjODDTzGqNlzpfBnPDvOo2_oCuyHdcmCKE7rhHzpeLQnbAm0RRdtnxUoTtWPW200yCYpRcWvKw6qQ_uvCwS-v/w216-h298/IMG_0873.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>Between snow days and half days of school I've fallen behind on my blogging and posting. It's alright though. My family and I dug out several snow forts in the various piles that accumulated, and I wouldn't trade those moments for anything. Even while I was shoveling and my arms began to ache, I looked over my shoulder to see my seven year old digging away at the fresh snowbank I just made on the corner of the driveway. He was hollowing out a side entrance, and throwing the excess snow right where I had just cleared. I could have gotten mad at him but the scene was just too cute.<p></p><p>Snow kind of gives me another glimpse into what God does in the world. My favorite time is right after the snow fall, where a layer of pure white blankets everything. It's so pretty and makes everything look so clean. Then the plows come through, with the salt and the sand, and a layer of grime gets mixed in with everything else. Mind you these things are necessary. We would kill ourselves driving on slippery roads. But the purity of the image is mixed with the dirtiness of human action. Even so you can still dig out a nice fort. </p><p>I share this because life is a lot like that. We get blankets of grace every single day, only for it to get mixed up with the messiness of human existence. We try our best though, and every so often we get one of those pure moments that takes your breath away and you're overcome with God's goodness.</p><p>A good story captures those moments. And the wonderful thing about stories is that they don't melt away when the rain comes, or when the temperature warms up. They are always inside of you and you can break them out and share them whenever you want. Perhaps sometimes you'll even give your listener a taste of what you've experienced, and their life will be enriched because of it.</p><p>So over the past two weeks I haven't done much posting, but boy did I get some nice stories. Pay attention this week because I am so close to releasing me first resource. I hope you'll enjoy putting it into practice as much as I've enjoyed developing it. Until then, share your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-43667435919424671102024-01-17T19:51:00.000-08:002024-01-17T19:51:27.185-08:00Something Exciting Is Coming<p>Today I pulled the switch and signed up for Groove.cm. I was looking for an affordable funnel software but this thing has so much more. Website, eStores, Funnels, Email - it's all in there.</p><p>I think I've hit the point where I'm a bit overloaded with what to do. I've been working on my Free Guide to Christian Storytelling for several weeks now, and I feel like I have it in a format ready to release. It's going to be a freebie, as are many other things at first. It's strange in this world there are so many opinions and so much advice out there.</p><p>While I've been working on this free guide I got an email about a Challenge Masterclass. It was free so I signed up. It's had some really great content, put on by Russel Brunson at Clickfunnels, and the speaker is really passionate. He also tells me that Challenges are the only funnel you need. "Great," I thought, "Now what should I do with all this other stuff I've been working on.</p><p>The thing is they're not going to waste. This blog, the social media work, the free guide, it's all going to come together. But since the guide is ready to go I went over to Groove and started my account. The trick here is to stay focussed, and promote one thing at a time. At the very least, once I get the guide out there I can use it as a bonus for the eventual challenges.</p><p>But my creative mind is always going a mile a minute. I started wondering about when I do end up back in a parish, how I can put these skills to work. Challenges can work wonderfully in a parish - 24 Days of Luke in December for example. Grove would be a one-stop shop for a Church's website, email, text, and even snail mail publications. It could easily link to Tithe.ly or you can use its donation feature for online giving. I'm imagining a QR code for people to sign up for the mailing list, and then getting an immediate thank you video from me. Then the automated system sends them regular messages with information about the Church -- a little at a time so as not to overwhelm them. I'm imagining email campaigns for Holy Week and why it's important.</p><p>This time of being unemployed and between calls is interesting. I've been exploring these other options, and I fully intend to use them to make an impact on the Church. Even if I'm not in a parish I do have something to contribute. Tomorrow I'm back at it, but right now it's late and time for me to go.</p><p>Peace,</p><p>Conor+</p><p>P.S. - Keep an eye on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Parish.Development.Ministries" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a> for when the free guide comes out.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-43453119169988892122024-01-16T18:31:00.000-08:002024-01-16T18:31:21.475-08:00The Episcopal Church Welcomes You“Sure,” he said from the other side of the table. “People are going to hear Scriptures that bother them. I mean I have to hear about Sodom and Gemorrah.”<div><br /><div>This was 1999 and the man sitting across from me at brunch just came out to me. Our small college chaplaincy leaned more to the left, and did so while maintaining orthodox beliefs. I was pretty familiar with the other Christian groups on campus, and I knew I wouldn’t have had this conversation elsewhere. But at The Episcopal Church at Cornell I was able to make a new friend who didn’t fit the typical mold. I appreciated that because I don't fit the typical mold in my own way.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the years progressed he and I became really good friends. Our minds work in similar ways so we would often talk long into the night and forget that time was passing. We developed some code words too. I can remember getting an email about making cinnamon bread - that meant he had just had a difficult conversation and needed company. The bread was warm and delicious too. When I got married he stood up as my best man. </div><div><br /></div><div>I share this story today because too often in the world Christians are perceived as hypocritical and judgemental. In some places I have experienced that to be true. But here in our little corner of Cornell University, the community was open enough that he kept coming back, and I made a really great friend. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"> </span></div></div>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-66059089041055964612024-01-12T16:42:00.000-08:002024-01-12T16:43:04.887-08:00Where It’s At. (I got two turn tables …)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pkIyvnKYh-QQdFgNKf8dYCy-wdmxfKc4nUdiRTUvOTxGKFp-voSHqhC9HQGpxKjEkE7c3ogxYcMcYBtPeSL0rJCWflk-uFpuiE010zUOen4ZUunDzWUyPw3PqRdrlwDKn3sPbXUVY1iVVrY_YM2LYYhRiVJLnFgCb4Jcb7pG5yHr_jQ4ZgrND7Vptexo/s940/Untitled%20design.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pkIyvnKYh-QQdFgNKf8dYCy-wdmxfKc4nUdiRTUvOTxGKFp-voSHqhC9HQGpxKjEkE7c3ogxYcMcYBtPeSL0rJCWflk-uFpuiE010zUOen4ZUunDzWUyPw3PqRdrlwDKn3sPbXUVY1iVVrY_YM2LYYhRiVJLnFgCb4Jcb7pG5yHr_jQ4ZgrND7Vptexo/w259-h217/Untitled%20design.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br />Today was more of a household chore kind of day. Grocery shopping, cleaning thr kitchen counters, cleaning out my car (really overdue). BTW - do you know what happens when you leave a cough drop in a cupholder with a few Lego’s? Well I do now. It’s pretty sticky. <div>When I get on social media I’m seeing all sorts of ads for free eBooks related to ministry. I see that and think, hey that’s what I want to do. They have some pretty slick ads, and I wonder if I’ll ever get mine that nice - I’ll probably have to hire a graphic designer. But it does give me hope that people are doing it - just in a different niche than me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve got my dream all laid out - just working on the execution bit by bit. I want to:</div><div><br /></div><div>Teach individuals how to tell stories as a way of sharing good news. </div><div>Train leaders to teach these courses in their congregations. </div><div>Provide a year-long program for a Church so they can make storytelling an integral part of their culture. </div><div><br /></div><div>Among the resources I need to develop are:</div><div><br /></div><div>Free Brief Guide to Christian Storytelling. (Getting there)</div><div>eBook</div><div>Instructor’s Guide</div><div>Church Wide Reaources (Calendar, Schedule, Certificates, Advertisments.)</div><div><br /></div><div>You get the idea. At the same time I’m working on telling more stories myself in these posts - of course in this one I’venreverted back to my typical style - get back on the horse next Monday. </div><div>But at this point in my life I do feel called to this work. I’m between calls so I have some extra time to focus. And it helps me exercise my priestly ministry in an unorthodox way. So keep looking out for my stuff, and follow my <a href="www.facebook.com/Parish.Development.Ministries" title="Facebook Page">Facebook Page</a> so you don’t miss anything. Until then tell your stories. </div>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-90350371596054837712024-01-11T18:50:00.000-08:002024-01-20T06:58:35.575-08:00How Gurdon’s Stories Enriched My Life<p>“Conor …” I heard Gurdon Brewster’s warm and raspy voice behind me as I was slipping out after Church. My summer schedule had been pretty crazy, as my Chuch back home was begging me to play bass each weekend. I loved to play, but it meant a 90 minute drive from Ithaca to Chittenango and I had a full class schedule at Cornell.</p><p>“I’m glad you came,” Gurdon said. I had been slowly making my journey into the Episcopal Church over that year. In the fall semester, Gurdon agreed to be my subject for a class project. I was to interview someone over the course of a semester and write a twenty page paper on their religious life. Gurdon’s first response was, “Wow that’s a lot of talking.” But we set a schedule over several weeks so as not to overwhelm either of us.</p><p>During that time he told me stories from his life. He had the dramatic ones where he worked with both Rev. Martin Luther Kings, and he had his ordinary stories like the one about his childhood teacher, Ms. Stump.</p><p>I was at a funny point in my spiritual journey. I loved Jesus but most of the theology I heard had me tied up in knots, Most of my friends believed in total depravity, which meant anything any of us did was sinful - filthy sinful at that. Get frustrated by a test? Sinner. Flirt with a girl? Sinful. They found their way through it by accepting Christ’s redeeming work, but that left out anyone who wasn’t a born-again Christian. So no matter who the Christian was, I was apprehensive.</p><p>As Gurdon shared his stories with me, I got such a sense of who the man was. Sure he could have told me that God wasn’t going to damn everyone who wasn’t Christian. But when he told me the story of a little Hindu girl asking if she was going to Hell for being Hindu … let’s just say the story moved me to tears.</p><p>From all these stories I grew really comfortable around him. The chaplaincy had a Wednesday Evening Eucharist and I began attending. I got to know the community and realized Gurdon’s warm and accepting nature rubbed off on the flock he took care of. I’ll never forget the first time he asked me to read the Prayers of the People. I was so nervous but he assured me I would do just fine.</p><p>It’s interesting looking back that he never had to hit me with heavy theology. Instead he shared his life. I benefitted from his experiences with MLK and MLK Jr. I shared his epiphany when the little Hindu girl asked hi, if she was going to Hell. I even have warm feelings for Ms. Stump, even though she had died long before I knew a thing about her.</p><p>Gurdon gave me such a gift by sharing his stories with me. Imagine what would happen if more stories were shared. </p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-62097450807497382802024-01-10T18:09:00.000-08:002024-01-10T18:09:42.963-08:00Up Days and Down DaysThe new email popped up in my inbox. I didn't recognize the address so I was tempted to skip past it, but then I remembered I had just signed up for a three week webinar. I got a personal email from the priest running it, and he and I corresponded a bit. It was nice to make that connection, and I went back and forth about asking if he would like to do some joint projects, but thought I'd let that wait for a few weeks. The organization is called TryTank, kind of like a think tank but actually trying out the ideas in real time - seeing what comes out of it. It's nice to see other people doing some innovative ministries.<div><br /></div><div>I was really hoping to add some graphics to my Brief Guide to Christian Storytelling, but the phone was ringing today and didn't get much done other than pick a few things out from Canva. I appreciate the free version because it allows me to do this upfront work while I'm investing more time than dollars.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am continuing my traffic efforts on Facebook following the advice in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Traffic-Secrets-Underground-Playbook-Customers/dp/1401973736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JLB84KIW6ZVR&keywords=traffic+secrets&qid=1704938928&sprefix=traffic+secrets%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1">Traffic Secrets</a>. The model is pretty simple, and it's respectful. Go on social media, interact with people in groups and pages - especially those who might have your ideal audience. As you build relationships people may migrate to your page or profile, and see the work you're doing - and perhaps be interested in it.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the challenges I'm looking at is sheer numbers. Of the 1.5 million Episcopalians out there, only about 10% of them are active on social media. So I don't have a huge number of people to reach - although 150,000 is nothing to sneeze at. We'll see what happens as the weeks go by.</div><div><br /></div><div>The thing is, I believe in what I'm doing. Storytelling creates a very different way of thinking that will transform the way you look at Church, Evangelism, even Stewardship. In just under a month I've had all these wonderful insights that I want to share with others. I want to see what will happen with a congregation the commits to a year of storytelling. There are more things I want to write, and more resources I want to put in the hands of interested people.</div><div><br /></div><div>But to do that I need to get the word out - which is hard. That's why I keep asking you to like my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856">Facebook Page</a> if you haven't already. And if you see something you like, give it a share. Just like the pieces of a faith puzzle, every little bit helps.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow's a new day, and I look forward to tackling some more work. Until then have a good night, and tell your stories.</div>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-37145807401959290752024-01-09T19:04:00.000-08:002024-01-09T19:04:13.447-08:00This One Document Raised My Spirits<p>Today I had one of those really productive days where I sat down for several hours and wrote. As my fingers danced over the keyboard on my laptop I remember a short note from my 10th grade English teacher - Mrs. Agnew. She was one of the most encouraging people I ever met, and she and I clicked on so many levels. She was the first teacher to explain what a thesis was, and gave us an assignment to write a position paper with a clear thesis. Mine was a commentary on Beavis and Butthead and their cultural impact. She loved it and gave me 100% on the paper. At the end of the year she signed my yearbook, told me to have great adventures, and to write about them.</p><p>So today I heeded Mrs. Agnew's advice and finished a short paper I had been working on for the past month. Aside from this blog and the social media posts it's going to be my first public offering of my storytelling framework. I am really excited and apprehensive at the same time. Since I'm still unemployed I have the time to do things like this, and I want to make a contribution to the Church. It's weird not serving in a parish since that was my typical outlet for service. Now I don't have that and I still want to do some good - so I write.</p><p>About an hour ago I put the finishing touches on my first draft. I'm now envisioning some graphics for the different sections, posting it online and promoting it. The promotion part is still a problem since my new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856">Facebook Page</a> still only has 35 followers or so. But I'm working hard on engaging other Facebook arenas, and I'm hoping to entice some traffic from over there. Russel Brunson has some great advice in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Traffic-Secrets-Underground-Playbook-Customers/dp/1401973736/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20KP1OK0IFF7W&keywords=traffic+secrets+russell+brunson&qid=1704855776&sprefix=traffic+secret%2Caps%2C550&sr=8-1">Traffic Secrets</a> that I'm following to a t.</p><p>And now I'm saying to myself, "What's next?" I've been at this project for less than a month and have already started to make some strides. I plan to expand the guide into a full book, which would mean 3-10X as much content. But I think I'm up to the challenge. I want to design a course that people can use in their parishes, and a whole parish program to make storytelling a part of a congregation's culture. All of these projects will no doubt keep me busy for a while.</p><p>But right now I feel good. I feel good that I accomplished something and that my project is moving farther along. Maybe that's why I'm having this season right now. We'll see. But for right now I'm going to keep up with my stories. I hope you will too.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-88948082520862156632024-01-08T18:14:00.000-08:002024-01-08T18:17:18.507-08:00How a piece of chocolate, a coin, and some camping gear led to my Baptism.<p>"Can I have one?"</p><p>"No I can only take out one a day."</p><p>My friend Dale had just removed a piece of chocolate from this odd looking thing. It was the size of a piece of paper, thick as a book, and had several little doors opened. The remaining doors had numbers on them.</p><p>"That's his Advent Calendar." Dale's mom told me. "It counts down to Christmas and every day he opens up a new door."</p><p>I stared at this marvelous thing for I don't know how long. For a six year old, the idea of waiting for a piece of chocolate was well ... weird. Given my caffeine intolerance we rarely had chocolate at home, so I had some practice restraining myself. But at that moment I knew there was something special about this chocolate - I just didn't understand until years later.</p><p>Another time I was spending the night at Dale's house. When we woke up on Sunday morning he told me we needed to get ready for Church. I don't think I had ever been before so this was something different. As we got dressed his Mom told him not to forget his envelope. "Oh yeah!" Dale said as he rushed into his bedroom, we close at his heels.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS72Kb2VJh59mksaw8SwggCnTsJxXiQHulS6qT0HnC2x8mqck7XYT14iRWnG-R4-D8Rw1wZNeKhKG2GBd07oksrx4mUPZHje7rU36cFam1H0meOBNXmq2SQHQuGcWxd9sK5ydQ7hpY7EQBcCh8HDbBHtKrEOW7MdzmsjIIZ7Q0e4G4N0eaSwp-EEo3t79I/s1523/IMG_0757.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="1520" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS72Kb2VJh59mksaw8SwggCnTsJxXiQHulS6qT0HnC2x8mqck7XYT14iRWnG-R4-D8Rw1wZNeKhKG2GBd07oksrx4mUPZHje7rU36cFam1H0meOBNXmq2SQHQuGcWxd9sK5ydQ7hpY7EQBcCh8HDbBHtKrEOW7MdzmsjIIZ7Q0e4G4N0eaSwp-EEo3t79I/w221-h222/IMG_0757.heic" width="221" /></a></div><p>I watched as he pulled out a small envelope, opened it up, and put a shiny coin into it. "What are you doing?" I asked.</p><p>"Oh I get my allowance, and I have to give one coin to the Church, and then I keep the rest." Giving money away?!?!? I had never heard of such a thing.</p><p>As we sat there at Mass I was enthralled by the brightly colored vestments, the altar boys carrying the torches, and the coordination as they and the priest all moved together. Something inside of me suggested that I should be doing that - but that wouldn't happen for years to come.</p><p><br /></p><p>My final story involves my best friend Kevin. After he told me he gets to eat a body and drink blood while we were waiting at the bus stop, the day finally came. Kevin had his first communion. I don't remember much about the service but I do remember the celebration afterwards. Kevin was also involved in Cub Scouts, so for gifts he received a tent, a canteen, a vital kit, and some other gear. Somehow in my little brain I equated Church with Cub Scouts, and specifically with camping. That summer Kevin and I camped out in his backyard in that very tent, and despite the dew we each had a pretty good night's rest.</p><p>Each of these stories are little pieces of the puzzle that makes up my faith life. Too often we fall into the trap of assuming that evangelism requires this one big moment. What I've found is that these little moments add up, and over time lead to a person experiencing faith.</p><p>But if you assume that it has to be this big, grand moment when the right message is proclaimed and someone surrenders to Jesus, then you run the risk of not telling your stories. Those stories can be the puzzle pieces in someone else's life. They will add value to the person(s) who hear them. So what's stopping you from sharing them?</p><p>Be sure to like and follow my Facebook Page to keep up on what's happening. I've been working hard on my Storytelling Report so it should be available in a few weeks. But in the meantime, tell your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-16011068046426614082024-01-05T18:42:00.000-08:002024-01-05T18:43:26.401-08:00Does Your Story Need A Luke Or An Anakin?<p>Years ago I was part of a young adult book group. Each month was something different, but usually of a spiritual nature. One author that stuck with us was Anne Lamott. I can clearly remember a member of our group concluding that in order to have something to say about the spiritual life you needed to have a lot of difficult experiences first. He kind of sighed and said he didn't have much to contribute because his life to that point was pretty smooth sailing.</p><p>This memory is in stark contrast to what I recently read in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stories+that+stick+kindra+hall&crid=1EVXTLP23PQ6W&sprefix=stories+that+stick%2Caps%2C708&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_18">Stories that Stick</a> by Kindra Hall. In Hall's framework, the first aspect of a good story is one with an identifiable character. In her thinking, a larger than life character is actually detrimental to a good story, because yor audience can't relate to them. I think back to the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and how it never quite captured the magic of the original. One of the reasons is that the characters were almost too perfect, unattainable. Anakin from the very get go had a keen knowledge of the Force. In contrast, his son Luke was your run of the mill farmboy. He could have been anybody, who gradually understood this larger world around him. Luke was an identifiable character - Anakin was larger than life. Despite his flaws and eventual fall to the dark side, I always had a hard time identifying with Anakin, because he was so different.</p><p>I share these thoughts with you today because I want to encourage you to tell your own stories. You may think they aren't grand enough, polished enough, or have a big enough transformation. I want you to flip that script and understand that a story that is too grand, or too polished, or has too big of a transformation won't resonate with your audience. Instead, those every day moments of grace and goodness are just the thing that people will connect with. Over time, experiences like these will fit together like the pieces of a puzzle.</p><p>In my life it was experiences that involved a piece of Advent chocolate, a quarter placed in an envelope, a Crucifix that was as tall as I was and hearing my grandfathers deep but revenant voice. Another time I was waiting for the school bus while my best friend talked about his First Communion. Then there was a fort that required baptism before I could go into it. These simple, and ordinary, everyday occurrences led me to the place I am today, and molded me into the person I am today.</p><p>So the next time you think you have nothing to share, think again. Imagine yourself as Luke Skywalker - not the legendary Jedi Knight, but the farm boy who's biggest desire was to go to Tashi Station to pick up some power converters. That ordinary farm boy was then led into a whole new world. That's the making of a good story, and that's the story you have inside of you.</p><p>So please tell your stories, and keep <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856">following</a> so you don't miss anything.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-36136836260585715942024-01-03T11:53:00.000-08:002024-01-03T18:17:46.404-08:00Books Make Great Christmas Presents<p>When I was a boy, I can remember going to the library each week at my elementary school. One day, after my mother encouraged me, I asked the librarian where all the learning books were. It was kind of a big question for an eight year old. The librarian, Mrs. Rodman, took me to a huge wall with floor to ceiling bookshelves and spread her arms wide. "Here are all the learning books." That captured my attention much more than the word "non-fiction." I stood there amazed at this wealth of information - biographies, science, history, music - it was all there. Since that day I've always had a love for books because of the information contained in them.</p><p>So it comes as no surprise that some of my favorite Christmas gifts are books. There's the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Sugar-Solution-UltraHealthy-Preventing-ebook/dp/B004QX07AK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QM6Y72H8H3GY&keywords=the+blood+sugar+solution&qid=1704334629&sprefix=the+blood+sugar+solution%2Caps%2C578&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Blood Sugar Solution</a>, that I'm writing about on <a href="https://hackmybloodsugar.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">HackMyBloodSugar</a>, and then there's another book about storytelling. This one is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stories-That-Stick-Storytelling-Captivate-ebook/dp/B07KF2328Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=441B7PGLYYB5&keywords=stories+that+stick&qid=1704304601&sprefix=stories+that+stick%2Caps%2C319&sr=8-1">Stories That Stick</a> by Kindra Hall. This is one of those books that both teaches a framework and demonstrates it over and over again. But each time is different and holds my attention.</p><p>According to Hall, a story that sticks is one that has four elements. </p><p>- An Identifiable Character</p><p>- Authentic Emotion</p><p>- A Significant Moment</p><p>- Specific Details</p><p>At the same time, a good story the stages of Normal, Explosion, New Normal. Basically there’s some kind of transformation going on. It’s similar to the change that happens in my Lenten Stories or the realizations you encounter in a good Easter story. </p><p>Another piece of advice she gives is to create a catalog pf your stories. Just start listing specific people, places, or things from your life (nouns) and use them as triggers to remember your stories. </p><p>This is the first post I’ve done since the Christmas holiday, but as you can see I’ve been keeping myself busy. There’s more happening over on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> so be sure to check that out. But most importantly, tell your stories. </p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-65655427110469801112023-12-23T13:27:00.000-08:002024-01-04T08:06:29.612-08:00How To Share Faith While Still Being An Episcopalian<p>I'm guessing if you're reading this you've thought about some kind of faith sharing in the past, but have shrunk back from taking action. The first thing I want to mention is that it's not your fault. There are a lot of bad examples out there. I can remember being accosted in a hospital waiting room one time and despite saying no thank you several times the fellow wouldn't leave me alone. Please Dear Lord anything but that!</p><p>If in the past you've been afraid that sharing requires you to be a kind of pushy sales person, locked in a struggle of who's right and who's wrong, I want to put those fears to rest. You can do it with the right mindset and the right models. Done in the right way, you'll be neither pushy nor obnoxious.</p><p>See, the real pushy evangelists think that making someone believe their theology is the only way to share faith. Nothing else counts to them. I've come to realize they're wrong. Those little moments of goodness that you experience in your faith life are even more important. And sharing those moments are both respectful and effective.</p><p>So that's what we're here for. I know you want to make an impact, and would love to see your Church grow. I want to show you how to make that happen through storytelling. The more you follow this blog and my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook</a> posts, you'll see more and more techniques and mindsets for faith sharing through storytelling.</p><p>For the people who want to make a difference and add value to people's lives, you'll learn two different models for storytelling.</p><p>Easter Stories highlight and celebrate goodness.</p><p>Lenten Stories describe a time when you changed your thinking or behavior.</p><p>If this isn't you, no problem, no hard feelings. But if it is you, stick around and learn this storytelling skill.</p><p>Good, still with me? Ready to move on?</p><p>The thing is that leading with the theology not only sets you up for an argument, but is actually ineffective at connecting with others. My goal in this next year is to show you how storytelling is the key to reaching people outside of your Church, and to show you my proprietary frameworks that will make it simple for you to craft your stories and share some good news.</p><p>Now you may be thinking that it's easy for me to share stories. After all I'm a priest and I'm used to speaking in front of people. But the truth is outside of the pulpit it was just as terrifying for me to bring up matters of faith. I also fell into the trap of thinking I had to lead with theology, that I had to have a complete answer, and even that I needed to convince someone.</p><p>All this changed a few years ago when I was trying to do stewardship during the pandemic. I needed to do our annual fundraising while the congregation was dispersed. How was I going to make my appeal. I hit Google and read about how nonprofits use stories to highlight the good things their organizations accomplish with donor funds. They taught me that fundraising, when done well, invites someone to be a part of this good force in the world. I was hooked. I immediately started collecting stories in my parish, and then a thought occurred to me. I realized that this kind of work went beyond fundraising. I was actually sharing good news with my congregation. There's the Good News of Jesus Christ, and then there's the good news of everyday occurrences - those moments when God makes a small difference. But all of those small moments add up.</p><p>I abandoned the old vehicle of sharing a complete theological package - it wasn't working for me anyway. And I started collecting and telling stories. Now I didn't need to worry about looking like a pushy evangelist, because now I am far from it. I realized that storytelling works in the Church because it creates a personal connection with others and has absolutely no need for arguing or convincing. Instead, storytelling shares something of value with another person - no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.</p><p>Now I have this great opportunity in front of me to create a complete program for storytelling in the parish. It will make use of the models of Easter Stories - those moments of goodness, and Lenten Stories - those moments when you change your thinking or behavior for the better. I've identified the three elements of empathy, anticipation, and laughter to connect deeply with the audience.</p><p>In just under two weeks I've had a few hundred blog views on the subject. Numerous people have reached out to me offering support and some have made arrangements for me to do a workshop.</p><p>But this work has transformed me also. Now when I find myself in a social situation, I'm never at a loss for what to say. I simply ask people for their stories or share one of my own. The conversations have become very rich.</p><p><b>Secret #1</b> <b>- How to share without being a pushy evangelist.</b></p><p>When I was in college I went on a spring break mission with Campus Crusade for Christ, now Cru. They handed us little cards that spelled out the Gospel message in four easy steps. Despite the daily training I never read from a single one of those cards. I always felt uncomfortable reducing something so profound to something that fit in my wallet. But that was the only model of evangelization I had.</p><p>When I finished seminary I had this burning desire to find a similar way to invite people into the Episcopal Church. Ever since I made the switch in 1999 I was convinced that this Church had the answers I was looking for. I could come and worship God, draw closer, and do it in a way that was right for me. Nobody was pushing me to be holier than I was ready for. Instead I was invited to go deeper. As soon as the pressure was off, I dove in.</p><p>I tried to make little tracts like the ones we used in Campus Crusade but they always seemed so banal. I was never happy with my results so I put the sketches in a drawer, where they still are today.</p><p>Then one day I was reading one of Russell Brunson's books on online marketing, and he told a story about oversharing in his sales presentations. Whatever the product was, if he got overly technical, his sales would plummet, and plummet hard. But when he told stories about the results he enjoyed, and how his life was better off - whammo. People were ready.</p><p>At that moment it hit me. All my evangelism efforts to this date were like the technical sales. Nobody was going to care about how clearly I thought about God unless they connected with God on an emotional level. Stories accomplish that.</p><p>I also realized that in my life, the pivotal moments were not because of theological brilliance. (I do enjoy good theology but that came much later.) The pivotal moments were those ordinary encounters of grace in my day to day life. One was when I was a boy visiting my grandparents. At the end of the evening my father zipped up my little coat and swung me into his arms. I always felt so safe because of how strong he was. That evening when he picked me up I was face to face with my grandfather's crucifix. This was no little carving either. It was several feet tall which meant for a little kid it was about as big as I was. I remember staring into this suffering face and despite the bloody depiction I wasn't scared. Maybe a little sad, but not scared. "Who's that?" I asked.</p><p>Then my grandfather, in his deep voice said, "That's Jesus Christ." There was no need for a discussion beyond that moment. And that moment affected me deeply.</p><p>Over the past few weeks I've been pulling up memories like this one out of my dusty old brain. The more I reflect on them the more I realize that these moments are the ones that set me on the path to first being a dedicated, involved churchgoer, and then going to seminary and taking on holy orders. I sought out the theology later because I had made an emotional connection through my experiences and was trying to make sense of them. It's kind of like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, "Were not our hearts burning within us as he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us? (Luke 24:30-32)</p><p>The beautiful thing about stories is that you don't need to prove anything, or convince anyone of anything. It is simply a matter of what happened to you. When you choose your stories well, they are something that adds value to your listener's life, because ultimately, you are sharing the goodness that you experienced.</p><p><b>Secret #2 - How to Craft Meaningful Stories From Ordinary Life</b></p><p>Earlier I mentioned the two types of stories: Easter and Lenten. Now I'm going to break them down a little further and go into some more detail.</p><p>Easter Stories: </p><p>Inspiration - An event from everyday life that reminds you of either goodness in general or the goodness of God.</p><p> - Choose an event</p><p> - Describe the event in as much detail as possible</p><p> - Pivot phrase: I share this with you because ...</p><p> - Point: Describe the goodness and what it means for you.</p><p>Illustration - Uses an everyday experience to say something about God</p><p> - Choose an event</p><p> - Describe the event in as much detail as possible</p><p> - Pivot phrase: The reason I'm sharing this is</p><p> - Say what you want to say about God.</p><p>Now you may be thinking that the Illustration Story violates the principle of not leading with theology. The distinction is that the theological point is not a complete picture of God, it is just one aspect, and it makes up a very small part of the story. The bulk of the story is helping your listener relive your experience.</p><p>Lenten Stories:</p><p>Decision - Describes the beginning of a faith journey, or the beginning of a new chapter of faith.</p><p> - Describe what was going on before the decision. Build empathy by sharing emotions. What belief or mindset was dominating?</p><p> - Decision: What new mindset did you adopt?</p><p> - Describe what life has been like since the decision. Provide details and emotions. Life does not have to be perfect, and the story is actually more powerful if it isn't.</p><p>Transformation - Involves some kind of challenge and change of mind within a faith journey.</p><p> - What was going on? Provide details, sense information, and emotions.</p><p> - What was your false belief or unhelpful mindset?</p><p> - What new thing did you learn and how did you learn it?</p><p> - What happened afterward?</p><p>Using these simple frameworks you can begin crafting your stories. Try them out in the bathroom mirror, and notice how it feels to share something valuable from your life.</p><p><b>Secret #3 - Where to find willing and interested listeners.</b></p><p>Hint, it's about choosing your stories to match with your audience.</p><p>Sometimes when I craft my stories I start to wonder who, if anyone would want to listen to them. That's when I'm reminded of the story of Jacob's Ladder.</p><p>Jacob was a young man who didn't get along with his brother. He was a trickster who liked to get things for himself. One time he spent an afternoon making lentil stew while his brother was out hunting. After an unsuccessful hunting trip he came home famished, and demanded some of the stew. Jacob demanded Esau's place as first born, and then he would give up the stew. Shrugging his shoulders Esau gave up his birthright, ate the food, and left without saying a word.</p><p>Years later Jacob had a dream where he say a staircase reaching from earth to heaven and angels were ascending and descending on it. This is important because Jacob had a very important role to play in history. From him came all the people of Israel. And to do that, Jacob was brought pretty high on that staircase - despite his questionable behavior towards his brother.</p><p>For those of us today, the people you meet are going to be at different places on the staircase. For the random stranger at Starbucks, an Inspirational Story might be just the right thing. For a Church audience, a transformation or decision story might be helpful. At other times they might need an illustration story to lift their spirits.</p><p>So there are a few places I would recommend sharing your stories.</p><p>For casual conversations, stick with Inspirational Stories. If a relationship is more established and your able to be intimate and vulnerable, a Decision Story could work, but only do it occasionally. You don't want to overload your friend with heavy content.</p><p>For a live Church audience, any of the four types would work, depending on the situation. For a Stewardship talk, Inspirational Stories are great because they show people what happens because of their generosity. Transformation stories can work when you want to encourage people to take on a big act of service or tackle some challenge. Illustration stories would be in a more formal setting, like Sunday School or Lay Preaching. And Decision Stories work when you want to encourage people about the difference that faith makes in people's lives.</p><p>Another great avenue is to record a video and put it on social media. A Church's Facebook Page or Instagram account are nice because the videos only have to capture a moment in time. Work with your pastor to decide what stories are appropriate at a given time.</p><p>Don't want to record a video? No problem. Write out your stories and put them on a blog or again on social media. The point is to get them out there and share those valuable moments from your life.</p><p><b>What's the point in all of this?</b></p><p>Over this next year my goal is to equip you for storytelling. You have so many valuable stories to share but right now they're locked inside of you. Let them out! Craft them and share them. To aid in this process I'll be working on several different resources.</p><p>- A free online report</p><p>- An eBook</p><p>- Half Day Storytelling Workshop</p><p>- Blog and Social Media examples</p><p>- Courses to do within the parish</p><p>- Leader guides</p><p>- A whole parish program to make storytelling a part of your parish's culture.</p><p>- Progressive levels of storytelling to keep you motivated, learning, and developing.</p><p>That's a lot to keep me busy. Do you think this would work for you? If you adopted the mindset in Secret 1, and realized that individual moments of faith are valuable and worth sharing, and then if you crafted those stories using the outlines I provide in Secret 2, and shared them to various audiences like I shared in Secret 3, do you think this would make an impact on your local Church? I hope so.</p><p>I've shared a lot in this post, and maybe it's a little overwhelming. Learning to tell stories is an art that can't be absorbed in a few minutes. That's why I want you to follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856">Facebook Page</a> to keep up with the latest material. If you've already done that, help me get the word out by sharing this post on your own social media platforms. But above all else, share your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-10518622565371179992023-12-23T07:30:00.000-08:002023-12-23T07:30:13.944-08:00Who Wants To Listen?<p> We've all had that fear right? If I share with my friends and family they will pull away, or even might not want to spend time with me. I've had those experiences myself. I can remember as a teenager being so excited about my new faith that I wanted everyone to know about it. As I shared what I thought were brilliant insights and theology I watched people's eyes glaze over, and some even told me to cut it out.</p><p>The biggest mistake I made was jumping to the end of my journey. I was trying to talk theology while neglecting all of the important stories that brought me to that point. At the time I didn't appreciate the impact of all those little experiences, like my friend's <a href="https://frconor.blogspot.com/2023/12/i-didnt-need-to-know-what-was-going-on.html">Advent Calendar</a>, or another friend's <a href="https://frconor.blogspot.com/2023/12/was-i-becoming-christian-or-cannibal.html">First Communion</a> class. Those experiences were the sparks that set me on my journey, and it is so important that they keep getting shared.</p><p>When I started recognizing the impact that <a href="https://frconor.blogspot.com/2023/12/my-journey-how-i-got-here.html" target="_blank">Jacob's Ladder</a> can have, I realized that sharing huge things in the beginning are counter-productive. If a person has only taken a few steps towards the faith life, it is both important and effective to share inspirational stories to fan the flames of faith.</p><p>When I was a teenager, I remember all the TV shows had these cool places where the characters would hang out. Charles in Charge had the Yesterday Cafe. Saved by the Bell had The Max. The 90's could be kind of boring, especially in a small town. Next thing I knew a place opened up on Genesee St in my home town of Chittenango, NY. I went in to check it out and there was music, pool, tables and chairs, snacks - all for free. I thought it was too good to be true. With the music pumping in my ears I started talking with the founder, a man named Jeff. I asked him why he was doing all of this. He just looked at me and said, "I'm trying to have a place where kids can come off the streets.</p><p>I knew his family was Christian and at the same time I thought to myself, "Wow what a cool guy." Jeff shared just a little bit of his story. He was concerned about kids on the streets and wanted to do something about it. That was all it took and I was hooked.</p><p>At that moment I had only taken a few steps on my faith journey. It wasn't foremost in my mind. And yet, that little place was exactly what I needed. I went there often, and always had a great time. Sometimes there were speakers, and I listened to them when I was ready.</p><p>My point is that these positive experiences were crucial for me in my journey, and they didn't involve anyone getting in my face and pushing their beliefs on me. They were exactly what I needed at that stage of my journey.</p><p>Today the world works differently, but the principles are the same. Isn't it more helpful to hear something that's non-threatening and appropriate to where you are? Wouldn't you rather add value to someone's life than argue with them over who's right and who's wrong?</p><p>Today we have Facebook and X and YouTube and all kinds of places where you can share stories of positive impact - stories that remind people that there is good in this world.</p><p>I'd love for you to join me on this journey of storytelling. Since I've started it more and more stories keep coming to my mind. To keep up with the latest, be sure to like and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>. But most importantly, tell your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-86039273946515036242023-12-22T06:10:00.000-08:002023-12-22T06:10:33.126-08:00This One Mindset Changed The Way I Approach Storytelling<p>For many years I kept my mouth glued shut. I was more than happy to share my thoughts from the pulpit, but ask me to share something one on one with another person, and my palms would get all clammy and my mouth would dry up.</p><p>Winessing, Faith Sharing, whatever you want to call it, was not taught in seminary. There were probably even little comments like, "We just don't do that in the Episcopal Church."</p><p>Another line is, "Our theology is too complex and nuanced."</p><p>And finally, "I don't want to look like one of those fundamentalists!"</p><p>We hoped that the beauty of the liturgy, or the Episcopal Church's progressive reputation would bring people in. And for a few years it did, until those vehicles stopped working.</p><p>At the same time, those big, unhelpful ideas about being too complex, or looking like a fundamentalist, or being distasteful were holding me back.</p><p>After I moved to New Jersey and had some time on my hands, my heart stirred to create this storytelling program. As I started writing my stories down I realized something. </p><p>The key moments in my faith life didn't require expert level theology. These moments involved ordinary people and ordinary experiences with the Church that ignited a faith in me. That faith later sought understanding, which is the essence of theology.</p><p>Faith has to come first. Faith is the foundation. And faith is an intuitive, even emotional connection with the Gospel. It might not have words yet.</p><p>I'm not saying that theology is unimportant - far from it. But it needs to be built on a foundation of faith.</p><p>Faith can be kindled through experiences. And experiences can be shared by storytelling.</p><p>Stories are so important because they allow me to share my experiences with you, and all you to share your stories with me. Our lives are richer because we've shared these things with each other.</p><p>I hope you will share your stories with others. You never know the impact they will make.</p><p>Please be sure to like and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a> to keep on all the tips and techniques for good storytelling. But above all else, tell your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-46336566350609775982023-12-21T16:52:00.000-08:002023-12-21T16:52:42.650-08:00I Didn't Need To Know What Was Going On<p> Sleepovers were great as a child.</p><p>We would stay up late, tell jokes, eat delicious snacks, and have a great time.</p><p>One of my good friends, Dale, would have me over from time to time. But the part I wasn't anticipating was how active his family was at Church.</p><p>Whenever I spent the night on a Saturday we'd pile in the car the next day and I saw things I had never seen before.</p><p>The first thing was Dale putting a quarter in a little offering envelope. I was shocked that he was giving away his money.</p><p>Then we'd be at Church and I saw boys around my age wearing colorful robes and carrying candles. I was sure they were doing something really important.</p><p>When I visited in December, Dale showed me his Advent Calendar. Those chocolates looked delicious but he told me there was only one per day.</p><p>I share this today because these little moments shaped my faith - even though I had no clue what any of them meant. If Theology is Faith Seeking Understand, faith comes first. </p><p>Faith is ignited through experiences - and experiences are transmitted through stories.</p><p>I went through so many years when I thought I had to get my message just right before I shared anything with anybody. But as I write down my own stories, I realize how important those moments were before I had any understanding.</p><p>More often than not, a person is not ready for deep theology, but your stories are always helpful because they connect with the other person give them a part of what was meaningful to you. By telling stories, you're literally adding value to their life.</p><p>If you haven't already, be sure to like and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a> to keep up with the latest tips and tricks. But most importantly, tell your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-35308140599424839632023-12-20T15:58:00.000-08:002023-12-20T15:58:06.068-08:00Was I Becoming a Christian, or a Cannibal?<p> Hello Clarice ...</p><p>Actually my story is even crazier than the Silence of the Lambs. I was six years old, and my parents just dropped me off at the babysitter's before school. Normally we would watch TV until it was time to catch the bus. But today was different.</p><p>My best friend caught my eye as soon as I walked through the door. "Hey guess what," he said, "I get to eat a body and drink blood!" As a small child I was intrigued. My friend was going through his First Communion classes in the Catholic Church, and that's what he got out of it. It was enough for me though. He was a year older so I would look up to him - whatever he did, I wanted to do it too.</p><p>But I had a problem ...</p><p>I was not baptized. I arranged to go to the classes - many of my other friends were there too. But I was told that you have to baptized before you have First Communion. But that wasn't the biggest disappointment. </p><p>You see, everyone else got to do this really neat thing called Confession. They would go into this little cloth booth and talk to the priest. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on but where there were going looked a lot like a fort. I wanted in.</p><p>So I spoke with my parents and told them I wanted to be Baptized. Then I could do it all. I could have my First Communion. I could go into that fort and talk with the priest. Boy this was going to be great!</p><p>And it was. Today I'm here because of it. As I was writing down this story I realized something. All the theology was terrible. Maybe not terrible but definitely at a child's level. We weren't going to understand the finer points of transubstantiation so it was, "Eating a body and drinking blood." The confessional was not a fort, no matter how much I thought it was.</p><p>Despite being at a child's level, the experience was meaningful and effective.</p><p>St. Anselm of Canterbury described theology as, "Faith seeking understanding." That means faith comes first. My friend's story about eating a body and drinking blood ignited a faith in me that has never left. The understanding came much later.</p><p>There are many people out there, while not children, still need their faith ignited by a good story. You never know the impact your story might have.</p><p>To join me on this journey of storytelling, be sure to like and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook Page.</a> And most importantly, tell your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-33832845352887191232023-12-19T16:39:00.000-08:002023-12-19T16:39:29.326-08:00Driving Ms. Saintly<p> This morning I had a nice phone call with a friend from seminary. Both of us are taking our ministries into the online world - he's a little farther ahead than I am. We were both remarking on what ministry looks like when you're a priest and don't have a traditional call in a parish.</p><p>Traditionally that was the only option for a priest. You went to seminary, got ordained, and went to work in a parish. When it was time to move on, typically someone would move from a smaller parish to a larger one. To seek out employment elsewhere was unthinkable - so much so that there's a rule for it in the disciplinary canons.</p><p>But here we are in the 21st Century, looking at a Church that has been contracting for decades. Where once there was a parish with two on staff, now it only has one. Full time parishes have contracted to part-time status. This has made it more difficult to find gainful employment - something I need in order to provide for my family.</p><p>For years I've been driving Ms. Saintly in only one type of vehicle. But it's time to examine other vehicles so I can still make a positive impact and contribute something of value to the Church. I'm building Ministry Development so I can support my family and give something of value.</p><p>In a way, I'm grateful for this time. I don't have to worry about budgets or vestry meetings or parochial reports, or any of the other administrative tasks of a parish. Right now I have the time to do some deep thinking about what the Church needs, and challenge some ideas about storytelling and its place in the Church.</p><p>Just like I'm transitioning from one vehicle to another in terms of employment, the Church has the opportunity to embrace a new vehicle to attract newcomers. When I was first discerning in 2000, the Church could grow through its beautiful liturgy and progressive reputation. Now that's no longer the case, so we need something new. I am convinced that nothing will impact the Church in the same way that extensive storytelling will.</p><p>I've been getting some great encouragement over these past few weeks as I launch this endeavor. It looks like I'll have my first workshop scheduled for sometime in early Lent. I'm grateful for everyone who is supporting me.</p><p>If you'd like to be a part of Team Storytellers, make sure you like and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook Page.</a> The more people we get engaging this material the bigger the impact we can have. Until then thank you for exploring this vehicle with me and be sure to tell your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-82462446777314756232023-12-18T16:55:00.000-08:002023-12-18T17:01:52.388-08:00My Journey: How I got here<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">In the summer of 2023 my wife received a phone call, offering her a job as rector of Christ Church Philadelphia. I was excited as the prospect of moving closer to family, it was a great opportunity for her, so we made the decision to accept. After the goodbye tears at our old congregations we watched all of our belongings being packed into a moving van and made the trek up to the Northeast. When we arrived and settled in to our new home I began looking for a call myself so we both could exercise our priestly ministries. Then the responses started coming in. “No, no, no thank you, no, heck no, this isn’t a good fit, no, no, no, and no.” In between fits of rage and general despair I started to pray, “Okay God, here I am. I want to serve and add value. What would you have me do?”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As one does when pondering, I distracted myself with Facebook.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>An ad came up offering a free masterclass on how to earn a living online as a musician.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It looked intriguing, and I love playing music so I signed up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I committed to a 90 minute masterclass and I was sure they were going to try and sell me something at the end.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> They did. </span>The class was good, and despite not being interested in the expensive coaching program, it inspired me to take action in another direction.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>For several years, I have been interested in storytelling, and its potential for evangelistic ministry.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>I have always wanted to see people able to share their faith in a way that’s respectful to the listeners.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>I bristle at the high pressure tactics that some traditions use - "believe or else" kind of messages.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>I have also wanted to see The Episcopal Church grow, because I believe our ethos has something unique and valuable to offer.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>The Episcopal Church is a place where people can come and encounter God without having every motivation questioned or described as sinful.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>Instead we can come as children, and ask where God is leading us to go.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>In the past I tried to rely on the beauty of the liturgy, and I expected reputation and organic growth would occur naturally.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>In the early days of my discernment, say 2000-2003 things were working that way.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>But for the last 20 years culture and ethos have been different, and The Church has been in steady decline.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>Many people would like to see this trend turn around, but they worry that they don’t have the skills or knowledge, or that they will come across as a pushy evangelist and avoid it all together.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span>I know because I used to have those same fears.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My fears really came about in college when I was in an ER waiting room.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A friend was suffering from a detached retina so I drove him in to get it looked at.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>While he was in the back waiting to be seen, a man approached me and started his witnessing pitch.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then he invited me to his Church.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I responded thank you but I had a church I was very happy with, and named my college chaplaincy.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His response was, “Oh I used to be an Episcopalian before I got saved.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The conversation went downhill from there.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When he was finally ready to go he tried to hug me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I just looked at him dumfounded.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>After insulting my Church he stood there with a big smile on his face and his arms outstretched.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As my throat constricted I told him that was okay and offered a handshake instead.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Come on I’m just trying to give you a hug!” he said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Again, no thank<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>you, and a handshake.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This time he took me up on my offer, and I’m sure my hands were sweaty and clammy from being so uncomfortable.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Please dear God, do not make me like this person.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I want to share faith just not like that.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the years have progressed the theme of storytelling has come up again and again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When I was going through my bout of rejections for parish jobs, I read Carol Martin’s <i>Boost Your Interview IQ.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>Her biggest piece of advice is to prepare yourself with stories before the interview to show how you’re the best fit for the job.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When I took Vinh Giang’s Stage Academy class for continuing education, he advocated using stories to illustrate points and make your public speaking come alive.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When I looked into nonprofit fundraising during the pandemic, I found suggestions of storytelling to show the impact donations have on people’s lives.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Finally when I turned to Russell Brunson’s <i>Expert Secrets</i> to help with this project, he teaches how to use stories to make an emotional connection with your audience.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At some point in this journey I had an epiphany.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Storytelling can work so well within the Church.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m convinced that stories are the perfect vehicle for sharing faith in a way that respects where a person is on their journey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One image from the Bible that comes to mind is Jacob’s ladder.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jacob had a dream where he saw a giant ladder and angels were ascending and descending on it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Today I think of it as a symbol for a spiritual journey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some people are on higher steps, some are on lower ones.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A good story meets the person at their current step, and offers something valuable that’s relevant to where they are.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I’ve come to develop two different types of stories, and two subtypes of each.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Lenten Stories </span>describe how you’ve changed your mind or actions on a topic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We all have these little moments in our lives where we respond to particular moments of good news.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Easter Stories</span> point to goodness in some tangible way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Along with these types I have developed three keys for keeping your listeners engaged, and those are Empathy, Anticipation, and Laughter.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since I’ve been doing this work I’ve watched my online presence expand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In the past I would write a blog post full of content but no stories.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If I got a dozen views I was lucky.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Now I’m getting anywhere from fifty to one hundred views, and I’m posting much more often.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Storytelling has affected me personally as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The other night my wife and I attended a Christmas party, and I found myself asking questions to solicit people’s stories, and when I had a point to make I would lead off with a story.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My favorite moment was when I was talking with a gentleman about cooking, and I described the first time I had a sous vied steak at a restaurant.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That steak was so tender I could cut it with my fork, and the flavor was perfect and intense.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When I told him how I learned about the sous vied technique he was getting out his phone looking up one of the wands on Amazon.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I wasn’t intending to sell him anything, just share this delicious way I learned how to cook steak.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m looking forward to the journey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I truly believe storytelling can add a lot of value to the life of the Church, and I’m happy to spend these days doing it.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1 - If you'd like to help me out, like and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>. If I can get up to 25 followers I can have a custom URL.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2 - Also, I'm having conversations with some people about doing a half day storytelling workshop. If you're interested in having me come out to your parish at no charge send me a DM on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/conormat" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And finally: #TellYourStories</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-37058828859715655332023-12-15T18:21:00.000-08:002023-12-15T18:21:23.753-08:00Stability, Obedience, and New Epiphanies<p> Other than schedule some new content my work today was mostly behind the scenes - developing some new stories for my half day workshop. In the past I've jumped right into the content, expecting my audience to be dazzled by my brilliance - which rarely happened. I can remember a few years ago I taught a four week course on Lectio Divina, and at the end I asked the class who felt ready to go out and do this type of prayer on their own. Not a single hand went up. I felt deflated like a latex balloon when you let go of it before the knot is tied. Pfffffffffffft. I also got curious. Why was it after all that effort that I didn't achieve my desired goal - equipping the participants to pray Lectio Divina on their own.</p><p>As I read through Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson, he shared how he had a similar problem, and that was because he was leading with the content. It wasn't until one day he said to his participants, "Look do you know what I went through to learn this? Let me tell you ..." It was after he shared his story that they learned his content. I re-read that paragraph a few times and said, "That's it! That's me! I do the same thing and have similar results. Maybe I need to lead with more stories."</p><p>So this evening I spent some time reviewing my Facebook surveys on why Episcopalians don't share their faith. I documented the objections in my notebook, and thought about times when I had similar objections and how I came to change my mind. One item that kept coming up was that people don't want to be proselytizing. This is usually because it's been done to them before and left a bad taste in their mouth. I chewed on that thought while I walked my dog in the cold December air.</p><p>Somewhere around the block, it hit me that proselytizing is the exact opposite of what I want to do. Proselytizing is the equivalent of dumping all your content onto a person and insisting that they accept it - or else. (Cue ominous music.) What I'll be teaching is to share the stories. Connect emotionally with your audience and share just once piece of how faith in God has affected you. There is no need to be pushy because it's just your story. It's kind of like what Murray Bowen taught about being self-differentiated. This is me, and you're free to respond or not to it as you decide,</p><p>A story is not proselytizing because there is no hard sales pitch. Instead its connecting with other people on an emotional level, and sharing something positive that has happened to you. It's an offer, not a demand. It's one piece of a cosmic, eternal puzzle, and doesn't claim to have the whole picture. But what it does do is says, "Here's a little piece of my life. I find it beautiful, and I want to share that with you."</p><p>If you'd like to have me in for a free half day workshop, DM me on facebook. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/conormat/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/conormat/ </a> Also, if you like and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a> I'll get closer to my 25 follower goal and be able to get a custom URL. Thanks and #tellyourstory.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-19506051327542817752023-12-14T17:40:00.000-08:002023-12-14T17:40:32.758-08:00Setbacks, Disappointments, and New OpportunitiesYesterday I received a phone call I had been waiting anxiously for. It was about a job I had put in for - and I didn’t get it. The person delivering the news was kind, and even encouraged me to apply for another position that, in her opinion, was a better fit for me. It is a different kind of job, would require a decent commute, and I’m not sure I have it in me to enter another process right now. <div><br /><div>This morning I got myself showered and dressed and put on my clericals. Even though I was home all day I wanted to shoot a video and hence the outfit. Somehow just dressing up had me feeling less dejected - like I still could do something I was proud of. I remember years ago when my dad was looking for work. Each day he put on a shirt and tie before filling out job applications. </div><div><br /></div><div>After the video I scheduled some more content, opened up my notebook, and started working on my plan. The ideas began to flow, time seemed to flow by, and before I knew it I had a pretty great outline for a half day workshop in Christian Storytelling. Now to find someone who will let me try it out. I imagine I can find a few friends who would be happy to have a free workshop in their parish. </div><div><br /></div><div>The feedback I got yesterday when I didn’t get the job was that I was better suited to a single parish. I disagree. I feel called to make an impact on a lot of parishes. I thought this particular job would be the vehicle to so so, but it is not the only one. Right now I’m thinking if the established vehicles aren’t going to get me where I need to go, then I’m going to make my own. As the Holy Spirit nudged me I felt my confidence building. Today I was reminded that a job is just a vehicle. Jobs have certain advantages, like immediate income, but disadvantages too, like someone else is pulling the strings. As for me, I’m going to keep on, because it’s the destination that matters more than the vehicle. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like to join me on this journey, be sure to like and follow my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>. If I can get 25 followers, I can get a custom URL. Woohoo! Also, if you'd like to have me in for a free half day storytelling workshop, send me a DM on Facebook.</div>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-76605884816251839592023-12-13T17:20:00.000-08:002023-12-13T17:22:35.868-08:00A New Chapter Part 2: My Journey In The Online World<p> It seems like every ten years I get the itch to sell things online. In 2003 I had big dreams of writing service music, selling the lead sheets, and getting royalties from CCLI. I put everything together and then ... crickets. I knew nothing about marketing and promoting, so my efforts fell flat. But I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Now I can tell people that I started a very unsuccessful music label, and ran it into the ground. I started with nothing, and I have most of it left.</p><p>About ten years ago I tried out Clickbank. Again I put together a music program. This time it was a six month program for learning the guitar fingerboard, developing speed, and strengthening your ear. I followed their marketing plan, and managed to sell a few copies. Still nothing huge to write home about, but I did enjoy the process. Now I knew a little about marketing, and did slightly better with email lists and such. Then Clickbank changed their platform, my wife and I bought our first house, and I moved on to other projects. A few years later we adopted our son and the dream faded away into all the sleepless nights and was replaced by the sweet smell of baby formula.</p><p>So what's going on today? I found Russel Brunson's material online and was struck by what a robust marketing program he has. I'm learning a ton, and implementing it little by little. I'm developing my daily content and posting it to Facebook. I'm finding tools to schedule the posts so I can work more efficiently. I'm sketching out ideas for my frameworks so I can communicate my concepts effectively. My head keeps spinning with new ideas and I frantically write them down in my notebook, determined to arrange them into a coherent whole over the next weeks and months.</p><p>Who knows how much blood sweat and tears I'll shed in the near future. Maybe this endeavor will flop and I'll have another learning experience with a fun story. Or maybe I'll find my marketing stride and distribute my storytelling program across the Church. Whatever happens I look forward to the ride, and I appreciate all the people who have encouraged me so far. Thank you. Until tomorrow ...</p><p>P.S. - If you want to help me out, give me a like at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Ministry Development</a>. If I get 25 followers I can get a custom Facebook URL. WooHoo!</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478482700446015358.post-78608225399560632312023-12-12T14:09:00.000-08:002023-12-12T14:09:05.847-08:00A New Chapter: Putting Old Tools To New Use<p> I've begun a new chapter in my life. A few months ago my family moved to Cherry Hill, NJ after living in Norfolk, VA for over sixteen years. My wife got a great call in Philadelphia, and I'm currently looking for my next call. In the mean time I'm keeping busy.</p><p>I decided to take my skills in Congregational Development and bring them to the online world. I launched a Facebook page called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554426510856" target="_blank">Ministry Development</a>, and I'm following Russell Brunson's model in Expert Secrets to reach as wide an audience as possible.</p><p>My goal for this phase is to dedicate 2024 to learning, developing, and teaching the art of storytelling as a vehicle for sharing faith. This is remarkably different from the idea that many people have in their heads. In some quick Facebook polls, I found that many people fear sharing their faith for one of two reasons. The first is that they have had bad experiences with evangelists in the past - the kind where someone would get in your face and tell you to believe what they believe - or else ... The other fear is that they just don't know enough about theology, or don't know how to share effectively.</p><p>What I'm proposing though, is that instead of those distasteful ideas of sharing, simply share stories from your own life. There is the Good News with a capital "G" - and there is a time and place for that. But for most people, they are in a much better position to share their own unique good news, with a small "g." These stories are the particular moments of grace that happen to us in our every day lives. One story from my life is from Ash Wednesday in 1998. I tried walking past the Chapel where The Episcopal Church at Cornell was having its Ash Wednesday service. Suddenly my legs felt like concrete and I couldn't move past it. This was very distressing because it was lunch time and I was hungry. But something told me I needed to be in that service. And now here I am almost 24 years later as an ordained priest.</p><p>My goals for the Facebook Page are to share stories like this one, along with the frameworks I use to create them. Then I would like to teach these frameworks in live settings to parishes that will have me, and possibly even develop a 12 month program to create a culture of storytelling in your congregation. I'm excited for the possibilities that this project holds.</p><p>Again this is a new chapter in my life. I'm grateful for all the people who are a part of it, and I look forward to those moments when our stories overlap. But in the meantime, tell your stories.</p>Fr. Conor M Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02890933155156963145noreply@blogger.com0