“Who are you thanking?” asks YouTube video.

The popular video sharing site YouTube is providing Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) with a platform to help focus a national holiday. A simple 60-second video suggests that since all good gifts come from God, perhaps it’s time to thank Him in person at a local Lutheran Church–Canada congregation.

“At this time of year we hear people giving thanks for everything,” explained LCC’s director of communications, Ian Adnams. “I have often wondered who they are thanking. So I wrote the video to ask that question.”

A church-produced video for YouTube at Easter is nearing the 7000-views mark. “People aren’t coming to the church, so we’re taking our messages to where they are—on line” Adnams said. The church will promote the video through Twitter, Facebook and its e-mail list.

Using online media is nothing new for the Winnipeg-based church. LCC established its first e-mail list-serve in 1996, a website, www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca in 1997, and earlier this month launched www.canadianlutheran.ca, an online version of its award-winning magazine. LCC also engages members and non-members through Facebook, Twitter (LCCInfoTweet) and a bi-weekly e-newsletter which reaches more than 1900 recipients. In 2007 it created a site where people can explore their own beliefs in light of what the Christian church believes. Thousands have visited www.whatyoubelieve.ca.

Adnams thinks this year Lutheran Church–Canada should “give thanks to God for the creativity of those who have made these new communication vehicles possible.”

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