A Letter from the Online Communications Coordinator (Rector’s Letter for 6/14)

Hello Redeemer!
Fr. Bill asked me to write and introduce myself to you this week, as he is away for his doctoral class. My name is Rachel Smith Starling and I have been the Online Communications Coordinator for Redeemer for roughly a year and a half. I am a 22 year-old student at FSU living in my hometown of Tallahassee, FL. I am currently finishing up my Bachelor’s degree in studio art with a focus in printmaking, and plan to pursue a Master’s degree in arts administration. I lived in Jacksonville from 2017 to 2019 while I received my Associate of Arts degree from UNF, during which time I was a part of Redeemer’s congregation and a volunteer with RSM. I moved back to Tallahassee upon getting engaged in 2019. My husband and I actually got married the day before the first lockdown of COVID, in my front yard under an oak tree with only 10 people in attendance. We now live in Tallahassee with two cats and a new puppy, and are a part of Incarnation Tallahassee together. We celebrated our one year wedding anniversary this past April!
In terms of what I do for Redeemer as our Online Communications Coordinator, I am a part of almost everything that has to do with Redeemer communicating to you via the internet!  I am the person who updates our website, so I post information, sermons, and all other announcements. I also create and send out all of our emails, compiling the information and updating the website and Facebook accordingly. I also assist with our social media for RSM as well as Redeemer.
When it comes to social media for Redeemer, it has been a pleasure watching Redeemer adapt to the challenges that have arisen due to the pandemic. With the help of the Holy Spirit, Redeemer has created an online community via Zoom as well as on Facebook in the morning prayer live streams that are continuing through the summer and the midday eucharist which has recently stopped for the season. I would love to work with you to expand upon this. I would love to see us connect even further through social media! I am currently working through how to do this in ways that are simple yet engaging. Below is a link to a Google Form which will serve as a suggestion box for the congregation. I urge you to fill it out so that I can better serve you individually and as a community. I will be closely watching this form and taking suggestions from you.
If you need to contact me for any reason, please do not hesitate to email me at rachellaurynsmith@gmail.com. I am happy to help with any technical needs you may have and work to serve you as best I can. It has been a pleasure working at Redeemer so far and I am excited to continue serving you all!
Thank you!Rachel