Problem: Article: Verbal invitations probably account for the majority of church discoveries between individuals. Preaching the Word and speaking about your faith with a friend are two of the most common verbal invitations people use to invite others to a faith community. Speak with kindness and sincerity. Let others know about all the fun things your faith community participates in. There may be raffles, fundraisers, community meals, community projects (often involving charitable acts), and even musical events. An indirect approach, especially community events like a lawn fete or barbecue, is a great way to invite non-church members to your faith community. These community events generate money for the church, bring the community together, and allow non-churchgoers to mingle with parishioners in a low-stakes environment. Put up flyers and advertise in your local newspaper to generate community interest in your event. Focus on creating a fun event. Don't worry about making it "religious" - if non-churchgoers have a fun time with the priest/pastor and parishioners, they'll develop an organic interest in learning more about your church, and current parishioners at other area churches may decide to join your parish. Some faith communities find that a printed invitation is highly successful for getting non-churchgoers to attend. That's because it provides the individual with a concrete, tactile reminder of your church's events, along with any relevant information about dates/times of service. Choose an ideal size. Some churchgoers find that four inches by six inches is big enough to include an image while still being small enough to fit in a pocket or handbag. Combine images and text. Try using one large image for the invitation's background that will catch a viewer's attention. You may want to use an image of the church, a religious icon, a nature photograph, or even some visual image from contemporary popular culture. The text should be short and to the point, and it should pull someone in who has been drawn to the image. Hand them out in bundles of two or three. That way the person you give them to can help further distribute your invitations to others. A one-on-one approach is probably best for inviting your friends or family members, but what about strangers? It can be intimidating to approach people you don't know, and it may be difficult to get a stranger to trust you after one short conversation. However, working as part of a team can make it easier to approach strangers, and will increase the chances that if you cannot answer the individual's questions, someone else will. Being in a group can give you confidence, and the person you approach will notice the sense of community and camaraderie between you and your fellow churchgoers. If you're interested in really promoting your faith community to non-churchgoers, consider talking to your priest or pastor about encouraging others to invite outsiders. You could suggest organizing a monthly "invite someone to church" day, and have your priest/pastor discuss different ways to invite others during church services. If everyone in your congregation brought one non-churchgoer to mass, it would fill the church up with fresh faces and renewed interest.
Summary: Extend a verbal invitation. Host a community event. Use printed invitations. Work in groups. Hold a church-wide campaign.

Problem: Article: Most publishing companies and agencies provide submission guidelines for writers looking for representation. Make sure you follow these guidelines exactly. Guidelines can include things like: The method by which you should send your query (such as via email or regular mail) Where to send physical queries What other information to include with your letter The proper format for your letter For physical queries, you should always include a SASE, which is a return envelope with your address and prepaid postage that the agent will use to reply to your query. This is a courtesy to make the lives of agents and publishers easier, so that they don't have to waste time pulling up your contact information when responding. If you don't hear back within a month of sending your letter, follow up with the agent or publisher. If your original query was sent by regular mail, send your follow up to the same address. Otherwise, send the follow up by email, using the same address as the original letter. Do not follow up repeatedly, and do not call or drop by in person to follow up.
Summary: Follow submission guidelines provided by the agent. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Follow up.

Problem: Article: Wet a steel brush (available at hardware stores). Brush the stained area for 1-2 minutes. This movement should remove at least some of the coagulated, dried blood from the surface of the carpet fibers. In a bowl, mix one tablespoon of dish washing liquid with two cups (500 ml) of cold water. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and dab the stain. Blot the stain repeatedly until it is removed, rinsing the cloth with cold water when necessary. For best results, use a detergent with enzymes. If the dried blood stain remains, treat it with a mixture 1/2 cup (125 ml) of cold water and one tablespoon of ammonia. Dip a clean sponge in the solution and dab the stain, working inwards to prevent it from spreading outwards to other areas of the carpet. Repeat until the stain is removed and then dab the area with a clean, wet sponge.
Summary: Scrub the stain with a steel brush. Treat the stain with a detergent solution. Use ammonia on stubborn stains.

Problem: Article: Apply the glue and trim to 1 side of the label at a time. If you are decorating the front label, consider doing 3 rows of rhinestone trim. Use a thin trim for the first and third rows, and a larger trim for the middle row. Use a thin, simple trim for the back label. You don't have to use rhinestones for the middle row. Try pearls or even studs! Some bottles have a round stamp or seal near the top, right between the neck and label. Choose a large rhinestone, then glue it right over the stamp or seal. Glue 1 to 2 rows of tiny rhinestones around the larger one for a fancier look. The large rhinestone should be large enough to cover the stamp or seal. For more variation, use tiny pearls for the first row, and silver rhinestones for the second row. If all of your rhinestones are the same shape, size, and color, your bottle may look monotonous. Give the bottle a quick coat of a clear-drying glue or spray sealer, then shake some glitter onto it. This works especially well over smooth, pearl trims. If you are using spray sealer, it must be glossy, or you will dull down the rhinestones. Use glitter that is the same color as your rhinestones to help blend it in some more. Extra-fine glitter will look pretty, but you can use chunky glitter instead, or even a combination of both! If you covered your entire bottle with rhinestones, it may look a little monotonous. Let the bottle dry first, then add larger rhinestones, gemstones, or flat-backed pearls on top. Use these sparingly; do not cover the entire bottle with these. This works especially well over a pearl trim. The rhinestones will help add some texture. Cut a length of ribbon and tie it into a bow. Glue the bow to the neck of bottle, then cut the tails of the bow into angles. Glue a fancy gemstone or brooch to the center of the bow for a more detailed touch.
Summary:
Outline labels with rhinestone trim for a fancier touch. Glue large, fancy rhinestones over round stamps or seals. Break up monotony and add texture with glitter. Layer larger gems and rhinestones over tiny ones. Add an accessory, such as a bow, if desired.