Liturgy, Life, Love, Laughter, Lamentations, and Leaps of Faith. . .All Under One Roof! Welcome to my Little Liturgy House where I will try connecting the dots between Liturgy and Life itself, Between Life and Liturgy. . .and back again. . .
After the death of Robin Williams
I realize that I have still have a few blog entries
related to Bipolar Disorder
just waiting to get published on my pc.
I haven't blogged much here at liturgy house lately,
and now,
well, now I'm pushed to finish this Bipolar series.
It angers me when people say things like
"if you accept Jesus Christ. . . "
Acceptance of Jesus doesn't take away our life's struggles.
In fact,
I dare say it only increases them.
Those who carry the cross of Bipolar Disorder
carry something tremendous.
To say "if they only accept Jesus"
is like blaming them for their illness.
We wouldn't dare say the same
to someone with cancer,would we?
On the contrary,
would would pray with great fervor for them.
Why aren't we praying with fervor
for those with Bipolar Disorder?
Why?
Rest in God's sweet peace, Robin Williams.
At least now you are at peace.
Now you are in peace. . . .
People,
I beg you,
listen.
Listen well.
Listening is an art.
Learn to listen.
Learn to look and see.
Learn to feel
and listen well.
The art listening could be the difference
between life and death
for those living with Bipolar Disorder.
I love this video.
In a poetic way
the creator of this video
gives us a glimpse
into what it is like to have Bipolar Disorder.
And very briefly and swiftly
explains why those with Bipolar Disorder
are often confronting a dual diagnosis.
And this 2nd video,
well it just made me cry.
I love the music chosen,
"stay with me."
. . .such desperation in the text.
Listen, my friends,
and listen well.
Bipolar Disorder is very real.
That we learn to listen to and accompany those with Bipolar Disorder,
We pray to the Lord.
Facebook TOS
are really pretty clear.
Don’t spam.
Don’t upload viruses or malicious code.
Nothing that is
hateful, threatening, or pornographic;
nothing that incites violence
or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.
You can sell stuff on Facebook,
but FB has a few rules about that, too.
Mostly to protect
buyers and sellers from fraud.
It’s really pretty basic.
Use your common sense.
So,
what does Facebook
have to do with Liturgy?
Facebooks
is actually a wonderful tool
for Electronic Evangelization.
I applaud those who are getting online
(finally)
and using the internet to promote The Word,
using Facebook to inspire, nudge
and just plain get word out to people
about events in their area,
about mass times,
about special services
and a whole host of other things.
And not just facebook.
Myspace, Twitter, Photo Bucket,
Flickr, Youtube, . . . .
. . there’s a whole world out there,
a sea of online possibilities
for sharing the faith,
PR for our worship and church events, etc.
The way I see it,
Facebook has a lot to do with liturgy.
Why, among my contacts at facebook
I have liturgical composers
and publishers of Catholic Liturgical Music.
Among my contacts
I have clergy and others, who,
like me, are pastoral musicians
and choir directors.
Facebook is a great way
to know what’s going in your community.
(As well as the larger community.)
In recent weeks
I was invited to join in a novena
to St. Augustin, which I did.
I was invited to an event
to help raise funds
for Detroit’s Clark Park.
I was invited at an event
held at the same Clark Park
regarding immigration.
I was invited to a church festivals
in my area.
As a church musician
I’ve even received invites
to lead music for different events.
It’s really a great tool.
I can post videos on facebook
of music I want to teach the choir.
Several of the members of the parish choir I direct,
the women’s choir I direct,
even of the children’s choir I direct
all use facebook.
What a practical and wonderful tool!. . .
. . . .until we get controlling.
If I posted something on facebook
that has value to the community
you can and should go ahead and re-post it
to you wall.
That’s the gift of viral that social media has.
You could/should/ought to comment that it is a good thing.
Or post the URL to your wall.
Don’t get mad
and tell me to take it off of facebook
because you were going to post it.
That’s classic “id” behavior,
classic “I want, I want, I want”. . . .
. . . “I want to be the first and only person
to post that on facebook.”
Well, too bad.
That’s life.
We really do need to get over the control thing.
So many just want to control.
If it’s a good thing,
if it’s something the community should know about
does it really matter
who is getting the word out?
“.. . .John said to him,
‘Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.’
Jesus replied,
Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.’” (Mark 9:39)
Yeah,
Mark 9:39.
Jesus gone viral.
And isn’t it better when a good thing
actually goes viral?
I would think so.
And let’s think about this a bit.
When it comes to sharing the faith,
shouldn’t we all be telling the world?
Not just one of us, or two of us.
Not just the committee chairperson
or parish council president.
Not just the choir director or pastor.
But shouldn’t we all be shouting from the rooftops?
Does it really matter
who gets to the rooftop first?
I mean how many stupid videos go viral?
How many times have you forwarded
the video of a dog
or the kid who did some trick on his bike?
Just think if Jesus stuff would go viral. . .
.. . . ah, the possibilities!!!!
But, no.
We (at least some of us)
get upset
because
“I should be the one posting that. . .”
Ugh. . .
Sometimes I just plain wonder
about people like this. . . .
Would that the “superego” enter in
and referee the whole thing,
that would be great.
Let’s face it.
Social Media is all about communication.
So,
why would anyone get upset
if information gets communicated,
especially
if it’s about Jesus, The Word,
Church Events, etc.?
The only reason I can think of is ego.
Just plain old fashioned ego.
And you know,
if you don’t know the following
you really need to go to class,
facebook 101, if you will,
before you start
criticizing the facebook of others.
TOS - Terms of Service
URL - Universal Resource Locator (basically, the web address)
Wall - on facebook, a section in your profile
where others can write messages to you or leave you virtual gifts.
Your wall can be private or public.
SPAM - unsolicited commercial message, sent to email
or social media inbox. . sometimes left as blog comment.
Embed - Embedding is a code for the video.
You take the embed code and post it on your website or blog
and then the video will show and people can watch it.
The embed code from youtube was used
to post the videos in this and other blog entries
here at Liturgy House.
Viral - when something online becomes popular
via sharing on social media sites or email.
Viral.
Now that’s word to remember.
If I post it in my facebook
and a friend reposts it,
it (whatever “it” is)
has gone viral.
And if that friend reposts it
and their friend reposts it. . . .
Well,
the possibilities are endless with Social Media.
Sort of like that old shampoo commercial. . .
Why don’t we (the church)
do this?
And why do we get upset
if someone else does?
Some interesting facts:
- Youtube is the 2nd largest search engine in the world
- Facebook tops Google for weekly traffic in the United States of America.
- 93% of marketers use social media for business.
Alas,
we (the church)
are sometimes still to territorial,
nay, neanderthal,
when it comes using social media.
I originally wrote this blog entry a few weeks ago.
I didn’t post it
only because I thought
the idea was too simple,
to use social media.
And I thought maybe I was only writing out of anger,
about being told to cease and desist
the use of social media
to PR a faith related event.
But you know what?
I was angry.
But anger can be productive.
If anger nudged me to write this blog entry,
that’s a good thing.
Because if you got nothing else from this blog entry,
I certainly hope you got the message:
Use your internet connection
and Facebook your Faith.
Electronic Evangelization - Part 1: What is Web 2.0?
As promised, I am going to tackle this whole idea of using the internet for Electronic Evangelization. And I begin this series of blog entries with Part 1: What is Web 2.0?
Now, in a previous blog entry some time ago, I stated that I am not black hat, meaning bad guy computer hacker. I stated that I am not white hat, meaning good guy computer hacker. Actually, I am closer to red had, old lady having fun on the computer.
So if my explanation of web 2.0 seems less than technical, that is why.
But if I, a non-technical middle-aged woman having fun on a computer can reap the benefits of web 2.0, then I am most certain that churches across our fair land can use this bit of information as they traverse the road less traveled, the way of Electronic Evangelization.
Web 2.0 is, basically, a way of sharing and mashing together information. It’s like a sharing of resources. This idea shouldn’t seem too far-fetched as in the off-line world of church, parishes are merging and clustering; i.e., sharing their resources. Web 2.0 is the same idea, the sharing of resources, but in the online world.
For example, if I created something, a video, for example, I give you permission to use it and post it to your site. Ask any teenager who has done exactly this to their MySpace profile page. That, my friends, is Web 2.0 101.
Now, in another previous blog entry I wrote about the Latino U.S. vote. I borrowed a video from Youtube that I thought was appropo. The video plays on my blog thanks to the beauty that is web 2.0. YouTuber NuevaVista70 left the embed code public, allowing me to "share" this video. (I’ll explain how to use embed code in other Rubi Writing.)
Web 2.0 is about sharing and collaborating. Web 2.0 is about building your content and then allowing the community to build upon it and, sometimes, enhance it.
And the even greater beauty of web 2.0 Is that as the community builds it more people come. . . . . . . hmmm, sounds like a definition of Liturgy to me, if ever I learned it: Liturgy, from the Greek, "Laos Ergon." Meaning, The Work of the People.
OK. . . . . .maybe I’m stretching it a bit here, even Rambling as Rubi is known to do. . .
But the point is, you don’t have to create it all on your own. The World Wide Web and her people (all of us) are working together. And that, my friends, is the beauty of web 2.0. We are connecting to people, connecting with people that we may otherwise never be able to connect with.
Web- based communities, wikis, blogs, social-networking sites: These are all web 2.0. (OK. . wikis can pose problematic at times, as these can prove to be people re-writing history, but more on that later. . . )
Blogger, MySpace, YouTube, Yuwie, Rotatrix, Flikr. . . . All of them are web 2.0, and all of them are FREE!
So, what does this have to do with spreading The Word? Let me give you a fairly easy example. Post your Pastor’s Passionate Preaching on Youtube. Then, post it to your parish blog and website. (Hopefully, you have a parish blog and website. I’ll explain why you should have both in another Rubi Writing.) Then, have members of the congregation post it to their Youtube, MySpace, Yuwie, Rotatrix. It’s your Pastor become virtual and viral. I mean, how many times have we all spread an inspirational story, some photos, a joke, etc. You send it to me. I send it to my circle of emails. Some of those folks will send it on. And so on and so on and so on. What if. . . . . .we actually send the pastor’s preaching? That Word your pastor just preached last Sunday has now gone all over the world wide web.
But more, because you left that embed code public in the YouTube account, any other pastor, or anyone for that matter, can use it for his website or blog.
And because there is room for commentary, your pastor’s preaching may actually gain value and viral momentum as other’s learned in The Word add bits and pieces of insight into the comments section.
At Youtube, you can post a link to your church website or blog right on your profile page. You can even post a link to your church’s site(s) in the description of the video.
Why, you can even add text via annotations to your video. While you can only link back to your profile page, you can still have the text to the link visible: StJohnDoeParish.org (Again, I’ll explain how to do all of this in another Rubi Writing.)
So. . . with the links from YouTube, you are not only spreading The Good Word, with your Pastor’s Passionate Preaching. You are encouraging folks to visit your parish website, where, hopefully, there’s a lot more good stuff for them to learn about. . . . . .and maybe even a phone number or email address where they can ask about joining your parish!
Now, what if you posted that same video not only on YouTube, but on GodTube and GoogleVideo, and other sites? Traffic to your parish website will explode!
Now, what if a Presbyterian Pastor also Preached Passionately and posted to YouTube and left the embed code public. Why, you can "share" in his talented preaching and do all of the above all over again. It might not be your pastor or your religious denomination, but it may be eloquent and marvelous and something your parish wishes to share with others. Bingo! You’re evangelizing electronically, web 2.0 style! What's more, the internet has allowed you to share resources and even helped to create an ecumenical atmosphere!
Once again, I need to state that I am in no way suggesting that the computer replace face to face person to person evangelization.
But you know, I remember in the olden days, a pastor could be found everywhere in the community, trying to bring the faith to wherever the people were.
I remember when I was growing up the pastor in all his collared glory, was at the 4th of July festival greeting and meeting folks.
I remember him going to the local arcade to be present to the young folks.
The fact of the matter is, the venue with the largest number of people who need evangelizing is the internet. By and large, this is where we’ll find our youth.
If we are going to bring young people to church, we first need to hang out at the places they hang out, i.e.; MySpace, YouTube, etc.
The internet is growing by leaps and bounds. A new blog goes up every ½ seconds. There is a lot of trash out there. Somebody really has to take up the task of spreading a little Jesus to all of this electronic parchment.
There's a lot more to web 2.0 than this. That little organ button at the top left of this blog is an RSS button. That's another fine example, and something which your parish blog should use, But. . .again. . .I'll walk you through that in another blog entry.
. . .and oh, those bookmarking sites are web 2.0, too!
So, share your resources. As you share your content across the World Wide Web you'll find it's not that hard to share your faith and do a little Electronic Evangelization in the process!
YouTuber, mwesch, created this video about web 2.0 a short while back. This says it all. Enjoy!
I received a call from my pastor last week.. . . .well, o.k. . . one of my pastors. The truth is, I've been practicing tri-parrobics.. . . . . . sometimes, during the school year, even quadra-parrobics. . but that's another blog entry.
Anyway, my pastor called me because the new parish website was finally up. It took a really long time to move that project and I could just hear the pride in his voice. I didn't want to pop his bubble, but it really was only a homepage. The project took a long time, for a variety of reasons. And I could tell he was just so happy.
He called because he was asking me how to use Youtube. How do you upload? How do get the code? Do you need an account?
I remember discussing using youtube for Electronic Evangelization with this particular website committee quite some time ago. The response from one of the members was that we should use Godtube instead. I remember saying we should use them all: Youtube, Godtube. Google video. . . The thing is, I don't think everyone understood why I said that. As usual, I was thinking way outside the box. Way, way outside the box.
So, I've decided that I will use this blog to give a step by step for using Youtube. And I'm going to that for a variety of reasons. First, because my pastor asked me how to do this.
But mostly, I'm going to do this because I think most parishes still don't quite get the idea of using the internet for viral marketing. Let alone, for Electronic Evangelization.
I think many don't have a clue as to just why places like MySpace are reaping success. But more, many don't know how to use web 2.0 for Electronic Evangelization. I dare to say that many pastors and parish lay leaders don't even know what web 2.0 is!
And another thing, Blogs are VERY important in this online age we live in. Parishes need to blog everything. Blog religious ed news. Blog the pastors column. Blog social ministry updates. A blog will give you more "space" than a traditional printed bulletin. I mean, the content is already created every week. Just click it into a blog.
Blogs will get traffic faster than a traditional website. Mostly because they are updated often. Google likes to see frequent updates. The more updates, the better.
And blogs are interactive. People can comment and react to all things written.
But blogs also offer other benefits, which I will also detail in future blog entries. Again, it's about Electonic Evangelization. And using tools that are so readily available to us.
You're probably wondering what the heck I'm rambling on about here. So, I've decided that I'm going to do a series of blog entries, a Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, if you will. Not just to give a step-by-step of using Youtube. But why we should be using these online places for Electronic Evangelization.
These places: Youtube, Myspace, Blogger. . They're all FREE! Why not use them? Plus, it's a great way to get young people involved in a parish ministry. Most teens already have a Youtube and/or Myspace. Most teens know some basic html. I know my 14, soon to be 15,-year-old knows way more html than I do!
So, use their teenage knowledge. Invite them into an electronic ministry. . . . . . .The creativity could be phenomenal. . .
. . .oops! . . . I jumped out of the box again. . .
Oh. . .and somewhere along the way I'll write about using the internet for fundraisers. I think many parishes may be missing an opportunity in this arena as well. But first, we really need to learn other things.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am in no way suggesting that we replace good old fashioned parish life and ministry with the internet. Far from it!
What I am suggesting is that we use the internet to our benefit.
Oh, still another thing, If your parish has a very special group or ministry, they really should have both their own blog and website. For example, one of the parishes I frequent has a dance troupe. They, my friends, are quite deserving of their own online home. And this for a variety of reasons. But, again, I'll detail why in the weeks to come.
O.K. Enough of Rubi's Ramblings for one morning. I have mass at two parishes today. So. . today I'm only practicing the art of being bi-parroquial!
Be sure to check back for this Electronic Evangelization series!
I am so tired of all the email I’d been receiving. You know, the ones telling me how to vote. I should vote for this one because as a Catholic I should vote pro-life. I should vote for this other because as a Christian there really is no other choice. As a woman, I should vote for this one. As a minority, I should vote for the other one.
I wonder if it ever occurred to any of those folks that I might just happen to be an informed voter?
And then I see this Youtube video. I smiled I laughed. I cried. And then I watched it again. And again. . . . . .and then I began to analyze this video. . . . . .this wonderful, artistic grassroots publication.
Now, don’t read this all wrong. What I am about to write here in this blog IS NOT a personal endorsement for any one candidate or political party.
Rather, it’s an analysis of how something so simple, something so cost efficient, can rise from the grassroots community to make a difference. And I’ll venture to say, It will make or break this campaign.
I never thought I would write about politics in my liturgy blog. But as seems to be the case when I write, I’ll connect the dots for you. Just please bear with me. There are a few practical pastoral lessons to be learned here.
Again, This is NOT a political endorsement of any candidate or party, But an analysis of a grassroots cultural contribution.
I heard on Good Morning America this morning That Hillary raised 35 million dollars for her campaign this month. Obama did 50 million dollars
Yet, what one media company did for the latter, I am sure, Will probably be worth more, Will do more than what those millions of dollars will do.
You see, these grassroots media folk cut to the chase.
Not one candidate in either political party was really making a big dent in the Latino vote. We are not invisible. And we are not optional. Although many haven’t realized it yet, a lot of us are legal registered voters.
What these political campaigns have failed to realize (or at least, failed to act upon) is how to capture that Latino vote.
The Latino vote will not be harnessed in debates, nor by filling auditoriums. Oh, these are important. But only if theses moments are evocative, emotive.
And the Latinos will not jump on board because of celebrity endorsements or TV commercials.
But add a Mariachi, And you’ve got our attention.
There’s just something about a mariachi band. . . . . I’ve said it before. . . I think it’s something in my DNA. . . That trumpet just starts and I am in the moment. . .
Yes, this media company did the Obama campaign a huge favor.
But, it’s not as simple as all that. . . . . . there is creative genius in this video and detail that you’ll miss if you don’t pay attention. Just blink and you’ll miss it.
The video starts off with a woman Not just any woman. She’s a Mexican Violin Playin’ Mariachi Latina. The Mexican woman is one of the lowest paid workers in the United States, if not the lowest paid. How’s that for starting off a video???
When the singer begins, He tells you it’s a “corrido.” A corrido is a song that tells story. If you didn’t know the song was going to be a “corrido” You do now because the singer just sang it and told you so. So, you pay attention from the start Because it is a corrido And you want to hear the story.
So, with the Woman Violinist and the word “corrido” This video did in 12 seconds what one year of campaigning and millions of dollars spent have been unable to do. . . . . capture the Latino audience attention. . . . . .at least, hold their interest to listen to what is about to be said.
This video isn’t buying anything with money. It isn’t renting an auditorium. It isn’t buying TV ad time. It isn’t hosting a debate (except for the electronic social network debates). Youtube is letting it be played all over the world. . . . . For FREE.
What it is doing is harnessing the grassroots Latino vote. And the video is going to those places where the grassroots folk are employed. . . . .those places we go to every day. . .
The video shows images of workers. . . . . .Construction workers, Restaurant workers, Hair Stylists, Landscaping, the Auto Mechanic. . .
. . .The Mariachi band is strolling down the street.. . . . .in front of a cell phone store, a hair salon. . . .we see the lady at the laundromat.
We’ve probably even forwarded this video to some of those very places.
This definitely hit home to the grassroots working class Latino folks.
And it’s using language that makes a difference. Now, I’m not talking Spanish / English here.
Words like “lucha.” That’s a Spanish Power Word. Literally, it means “struggle.” Yet, it evokes all sorts of emotions and memories. It is the “lucha” that forces us to make priorities. It is the “lucha” that builds character. It is the “lucha” the forces us, teaches us how to survive. The video shows a man of color and speaks of the fact this his struggle is our struggle. No amount of money in any campaign Can buy what those cleverly sung words evoke.
And some cleverly used political buzzwords are used in this video: Familia – Family Unidos - United Humilde – Humble Plan de Salud – Health care plan.
And when the word “vision” is used, We see images of people together, Various races, united and smiling with their candidate.
And the greatest Power Word of all: VIVA You can’t give the shout out “viva" unless it’s real, Unless you mean it. And yet, VIVA demands a response. . . .
. . If you can’t or won’t give your assent with a shout back of “viva” it forces you to think. . . . . .forces you to articulate for yourself where and to what you can say “Viva” to.
This grassroots effort is phenomenal. If the Democratic party were smart, They would hire this media company To create an add for their party’s candidate, Who ever that may be in the end. If they Republicans were smart, They would beat the Dems to it.
So. . .what are the pastoral lessons to be learned from all of this?
1. Remember the value women add to your congregation. Parish secretaries, catechists. . . the committee work. . . . . .the grunt work. . .the kitchens. . . the fundraisers. Women give birth in more ways than one. Remember the women. Honor them. Treasure them.
2. Remember that the Power isn’t always in the pocketbook. The parishioner with the biggest checkbook may not be your congregation’s greatest treasure. Find the pearl. Find the diamond. These will lead you to other such treasures. Appreciate them all. Celebrate them all.
3. Think creatively, Especially now that times are hard in this country. Nothing sparks creativity like the “lucha.” Use this to your advantage.
4. Know your congregation. Speak their language. Even if this means you must learn a few new words every now and again. Be aware that language doesn’t necessarily equal linguistics.
5. Use the power of Social Networking sites such as Youtube. Video tape homilies. Video tape missions, Bible study, reflections. And please video tape your youth group. That’s a treasure beyond measure. Post it all to Youtube. And then post it to your parish website and/or blog. You never know how much you’ll benefit. For the truth is, for better or for worse, We are living in an age that requires us to use Electronic Evangelization, as well as traditional methods. It’s free and it’s easy.
6. Use the shout out “Viva” where applicable. It demands a response. It will bring about that “. . full, conscious, active participation” called for in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
7. And finally, And perhaps, most importantly, don’t forget to hire a Mariachi Band. It’s well worth the expense. And it will be pay untold dividends.
