All posts in Park

Farewell Park

by Tim Schraeder on 12/23/2010 in Park with No comments

When my brother and sister both kept talking about this new church they had found I was very intrigued. My brother had already gotten involved on the worship team and my sister, who had written off church in college, had started attending and even got involved in a small group.  I was definitely excited to check this place out.

I made a weekend trip to visit them and on a frigid Sunday morning in January 2007, we braved the elements to attend a service. The church didn’t have a building of its own yet, so they met in a school on Clark Street in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Despite the frigid temperatures, the auditorium was packed with 20-and-30-somethings, young families and children. We were late getting there so the ushers took us to the only free seats in the place… on the front row. The energy in the room was electric. That particular Sunday each of the church’s elders took turns teaching, sharing the vision of the church. As I sat there, heard the vision, and imagined with them at what was possible, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of.

The following day I went on their website, and to be honest, I was quite surprised. It was a great website but it didn’t quite match what I had experienced in person the day before. Armed with some courage believing that I could help them out, I drafted an email and threw together and a resume and portfolio and clicked “Send.”

A few phone calls and three months later, I began an incredible, nearly four-year journey, of being the Director of Communications at Park Community Church. On my first day I blogged, ” I know I’m jumping into something that is going to take me on the ride of my life.” Those words could not have been more true.

I’ve spent most of this week going through all of my files, reflecting and remembering what has been an incredible journey serving on staff at Park. Looking back over my time here the word that keeps coming to mind is grateful. I am so incredibly thankful and grateful for this experience, and more than humbled by the opportunity and gift God gave me in leading here.

A lot has changed at Park.

When I started on staff we met at Francis Parker School with about 800 people in average weekly attendance. Our building was just a shell of an old warehouse in the changing Cabrini-Green neighborhood. Our staff had about 18 people. We rented office space in Old Town above a Starbucks and a Thai restaurant and later moved to the 21st floor of the John Hancock Center before moving into our building in 2008.

Today, well over 2,500 people attend Park in three locations in neighborhoods across the city. Our staff is over 30 people and our building, which opened in 2008, has not only served our church but has become a fixture in our local neighborhood, hosting various events and outreaches for our community. Park is reaching new people every day and is living out its vision to be a biblical community where the Gospel of Jesus Christ transforms lives, renews the city, and impacts the world.

In my time serving at Park I’ve caused a bit of a ruckus… I helped rebrand the church, launched a new website [and 2 iterations since!], transitioned to an almost paperless communications strategy including killing the weekly bulletin, leveraged texting and social media to engage with our congregation, and helped to shape Park into what it is today.

Over the past few years there have been so many highlights and things I could share but I have to be honest… the highlight of my time at Park wasn’t so much the work I did or was a part of, but what God did in my own heart and life through this season. I feel like I came here bright-eyed and still wet behind the ears, and in my time here have grown up, matured, found my voice, and most importantly, found myself and God’s calling for my life. God has worked in my life in some deeply significant ways and revealed Himself and His strength through my weakness.

I’ve learned how to navigate and lead a somewhat normal existence in the chaos of city life [and absolutely LOVE it!], have found an incredible community of friends who are like family, and learned so much about God and myself in the process. I’ve had some of the most amazing opportunities, been a part of some incredible experiences, and have met people who I know will be friends for life. It hasn’t always been easy and there have definitely been challenges, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

I leave Park today with nothing but respect and admiration for the leadership and thankfulness for the opportunity to serve here. When I look back and see how God brought me here and what I’ve been able to do while I’ve been on staff, I’m just in awe of His faithfulness…. it’s been through Him, by His grace and for His glory.

To remember my first Sunday attending Park, hearing the vision and imagining what was possible, and to see where we are today is just a remarkable thing. To have been a small part of a significant chapter in the life of the church is something that I consider an immense honor and made for some of the most exciting and fulfilling seasons of ministry I’ve been a part of to date.

I am so excited for what God has already done at Park and know that even greater things are yet to come. The vision of and the heart of Park’s leadership will continue to see the church grow in size and influence, but most importantly, see more people find life transformation through the Gospel. I am so expectant to see what God will do!

I’m thrilled that in my new role I’ll continue to be able to work with the Church on a larger scale and recognize that none of this would have been possible without my time and work at Park. I cannot thank the team at Park enough for their support, encouragement, trust, grace when there were typos, and their willingness to take a risk and try new things. My experience here has built a platform for me to share and influence others and will now be a gift to other churches.

To Jackson, Donna, Steve, Jonthan, John, JR, Ty, Kensen, Joe, Scott, Bill, Kevin, Zach, Emily, Meghan, Laurel, Alicia, Sharon, Sandy, Alisha, Sheri, Laura, Mabrie, Josh, Jen, Bret, Lisa, Christine, Megan, Bob, Lindsey, Mario, Lyndsay, Annika, Rachael, Terry, Debra, Andrea, Whitney, Matt, Tim, Curtis, Andrew, Brian, Aaron, Jason, Mary, Becky, Joseph, Jim, Laura, John [and anyone else I forgot!]… it’s been a privilege to serve with you at Park. You are all some of the most remarkable people I know and it’s been an honor to be on this exciting adventure with you. I’m thankful for all of you and for the impact your life has made on mine.

To Josh Burns, who is taking my spot at Park… Dude, I am so excited for you! The first time I met you I had this sneaky suspicion you’d have my job one day and who knew it would come so fast. It’s been a blast working with you and I am so thankful for your friendship and passion for the Church… I know you are going to do great things Park and am excited to follow your journey.

To all of you who have followed along through this blog, thank you! I so appreciate each one of you and am so thankful for the work you are all doing in your own churches… keep up the great work!

As one chapter closes and a new one begins, I’m grateful for what God has already done and expectant for what’s in store… for me and for Park!

I thought it would only be fitting to close this post with this song… Love you guys!

[BTW, this song is a complete joke... ]

An Open Letter to Church Communication Directors

by Tim Schraeder on 12/17/2010 in Church Communications, Park, Principles with 7 Comments

Dear Church Communications People Everywhere,

In less than a week, I’ll be closing my office door at Park Community Church for the last time as well as closing the door on a nearly 10-year career of doing church communications. While in my new role I’ll still be championing the cause for church communications, it won’t be in the capacity of being an everyday practitioner. That being said, I have a few things I want to share with you while I’m still “one of you.”

First, know that what you do really matters.

Communications rests on different levels in the life of many churches, so regardless of where you fit on the flow chart, know that you do really matters. We’ve been entrusted with an incredible opportunity to share and communicate the message of the Gospel in new and creative ways. It’s more than letting people know about the next membership class, new sermon series or women’s prayer group. It’s more than doing bulletins, designing graphics or building websites. It’s more than responding to a tweet or posting a link on Facebook.  It’s about stewarding the opportunity God has given us in our hyper-connected world to help people find connection with Christ.

God has uniquely gifted each one of you with different creative gifts to express the message God is longing to communicate to your city through the work and ministry of your local church.  The things you write, design, or create help pave the road for people’s journeys back towards Christ. You may never be up front teaching or leading worship but the work you do helps to remove barriers so people hear and connect with the message. People may never know who you are or really understand what you do, but more times that not, something you’ve created or designed intersects someone and causes them to come to your church to find out more.

As silly or minute as it all may seem, in today’s world stuff like this matters. People will often form their first impressions of your church when they come to your website or see something you’ve designed that’s been put in their hands by a friend, mailman, or however else you may work to get your message out there. The time you spend picking out fonts or finding the right image, the tireless time you spend writing and revising, editing and redesigning all matters. You are helping to present your church, and ultimately Christ to your community.

How your church communicates is vitally important and in most instances, that responsibility rests on your shoulders. Don’t look at what you do as a job; consider it you holy calling. Let your passion for God flow into the things you create and ways you communicate. Recognize the immense responsibility you have and steward what God has given you to communicate with pixels, images, or words that express His heart and compassion to the world around you.

I could probably write a short novel about my heart for all of this and for all of you but let me condense it to a few bullet points:

There’s much more I could share with you all, but let me leave you with this thought:

In our ever-changing world God has given you the responsibility to communicate His unchanging message to a world that’s desperate and searching for hope.

I DO believe that the Church is the hope of the world and firmly believe that our greatest days are yet to come. While the world around us is shaking we stand on the truth of God’s Word and rest in His love and compassion. He is our hope.

Each one of us has the opportunity to share that Story, to tell of the Kingdom of God, to explain what is unseen and bring people into God’s glorious light. It’s not a secret to be kept but one that must be told again and again in different, creative ways.

We’ve got the greatest story to tell, how will YOU help your church share it?

“God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16, The Message

It’s been an honor serving the Church with you – remember greater things are yet to come!

Tim Schraeder

So, What’s Next?

by Tim Schraeder on 12/15/2010 in Church Communications, Just For Fun, Park, Personal with 21 Comments

A little over a month ago I announced the news that I had made the decision to leave my position as the Director of Communications at Park Community Church. It was an enormous step of faith on my part because, at the time of my resignation, I didn’t have another job. I felt like the time was right and even though the “what’s next” part was still an empty fill-in-the-blank, I knew it was a risk God was leading me to take.

I’m really excited to say that God came through [and I’m learning that God really does honor obedience].

I had begun having nightmares of having to go back to Starbucks or going back to square one to look for a job, but within hours of my announcement I had emails and calls from some amazing people and organizations. I was truly humbled and in awe of God’s faithfulness. I ended up having four very different but promising leads that absolutely blew my mind.

I didn’t want to work for a church but wanted to work for the Church, helping churches communicate and tell their story more effectively, whether that be through consulting or by going free agent. 

Well, about a week to the day of my blog post I was offered and accepted a job!

Beginning in January 2011, I will be joining the team at Church Solutions Group.

I know what you’re thinking… “don’t they just do buildings?”

That’s what I thought, too.

Church Solutions Group is primarily known for church building, architecture, and A/V. They built Willow Creek’s auditorium and did Park’s new worship space, but they do so much more than buildings!

 CSG is aiming to be a true solution for churches offering a variety of services from helping churches think through strategic planning and implementation, assisting with capital campaigns and even helping with the people side of things from helping churches with staffing, volunteers, and more.

There’s a lot taking shape and it’s still very much in the start-up phase, which is exciting, and something that will be a blast to be a part of.  And, my former creative counterpart at Park, Jason Widney is working with CSG too, so “the band” will be back together again!

In my role I’ll be functioning as a communications consultant, helping churches think through their communications and branding, as well as helping CSG  brand and develop their new initiatives and services to churches.

I’m equally excited to share that I will continue to be an active church communications practitioner, as I’ll be joining a volunteer team to help run communications at what will be my new church home, Soul City Church.

I’ve been following the unfolding story of Soul City and have become good friends with Jarrett and Jeanne Stevens as they’ve moved into the city. I was able to be a part of their first service last month and that pretty much sealed the deal for me, knowing I’d need to find a new church home, as I’d be transitioning off the team at Park.

I’m so excited about this next chapter, both in working with Church Solutions Group to help serve the Church, and plugging in to help volunteer and be a part of a new church that’s been planted in Chicago.

As for everything else,  I will continue to be speaking, writing, and sharing my thoughts on church communications from a new perspective, both as a consultant and volunteer! Next year already has some big things in store: the release of OUTSPOKEN, Cultivate, and Story!

For those who were wondering, my role at Park has been transitioned to my good friend and soon-to-be former assistant, Josh Burns. I met Josh for the first time a couple of years ago at the ECHO Church Media Conference. He had been attending and volunteering at Park while going to Moody Bible Institute and joined our staff team at Park over a year ago helping with media arts.

Josh began working with me in communications over the summer and showed that he was passionate and more than qualified to lead communications at Park. He’s young, insightful, and years beyond his age when it comes to thinking through the role of communications in the Church. He’s already proven to be a valuable part of our team and I am thrilled that he’ll be taking over the reigns. Follow him, subscribe to his blog, and watch as he takes it to another level!

Many thanks to all of you who have sent notes or DM’s of encouragement and for your prayers over the past month. It’s been such a humbling journey and I’m so amazed at how God has provided and written the beginnings of this next chapter.

I’m so excited to see what’s next!

New Christmas Tunes from Park

by Tim Schraeder on 12/07/2010 in Just For Fun, Music, Park with 11 Comments

Charlie Brown, Mariah Carey, and the “Rat Pack” make up a majority of the artists in my Christmas playlist. This Christmas I’m adding a new CD to the mix, Christmas Songs Vol I, a collection of songs from the bands at Park.

Park has a unique approach when it comes to music… we don’t have a traditional “worship team,” we have bands. Under the leadership of Joseph Tenney and Matt Marron [formerly of Pomeroy], we have a number of bands who each have their own unique style and genre that create original music as well as updating hymns. Instead of having a short list of musicians and singers and plugging them in where they fit, we put band leaders through extensive training, host auditions of musicians and singers and form bands that not only create great music but do life together in community.  It’s a different way of approaching worship but one that is resonating well with our congregation.

Christmas Songs Vol I is a collection of classic Christmas carols as well as original songs performed by nine of Park’s bands. It released at our church over the weekend and is now available for purchase on iTunes. It’s all over the place musically [in a good way] and captures the creative approach Park is taking with our band model.

I think it will make a great addition to your Christmas playlist so much so that I’m going to give away 5 copies! Just comment below and let me know your favorite Christmas carol. I’ll be picking the winners randomly now through tomorrow at Noon.

Either way, check it out and get yourself a copy… all proceeds from the purchase of the sale of the CD will go to benefit Renew Chicago, Park’s outreach arm that partners with other ministries around the city to make a difference!

← Older Entries