INPUT ARTICLE: 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.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The shaft of a boot refers to the portion of the boot that rises above your foot and over your calf. When you only see a measurement for “boot shaft,” it is safe to assume that the measurement refers to the height of the shaft and not the circumference. Place one end of a tape measure at the middle of the boot arch, directly above the boot sole. Extend the tape measure vertically along the outside of the boot until you reach the very top of the shaft. This length is your boot shaft height.  Note that in the United States, boot shaft sizes are described in inches even when the shaft extends beyond a foot in height. When a manufacturer lists the shaft height of a boot, the heel height is not usually included in that measurement. There is still some risk that some shops will include heel height as part of the shaft height, though, which can throw this measurement off completely. When buying a pair of boots you cannot measure yourself, try to verify whether or not heel height is left out of the shaft measurement. If you are not able to measure the boot, you can estimate how tall a boot shaft might be simply by noting the style of boot.  For a size 8.5 women's boot: Ankle boot shafts range between 3 and 8 inches (7.6 and 20.3 cm). Mid-calf boot shafts range between 8.25 and 13.25 inches (21 and 33.7 cm). Knee-high boot shafts can be 13.5 inches (34.3 cm) or taller.   Boot shaft estimations can vary depending on the size of the boot. A size smaller than 8.5 will have a slightly shorter shaft, while a larger size will have a slightly larger shaft. The change in shaft size is usually about equal to the change in foot length when you compare your size against an 8.5 sized boot. Typically, heel height is not included as part of the boot shaft height. Since this separate measurement does play a part in the overall height of the boot, though, it can still be worth knowing.  Measure the heel height by extending a tape measure from the bottom of the heel to the point at which it meets the sole of the boot. Place the tape measure against the center side of the heel as you measure. Common heel heights based on heel type are:  Flat heels, with an average height between 0 and 0.75 inches (0 and 1.9 cm). Low heels, with an average height between 1 and 1.75 inches (2.5 and 4.4 cm). Mid heels, with an average height between 2 and 2.75 inches (5 and 7 cm). High heels, with an average height at 3 inches (7.6 cm) or above.

SUMMARY: Identify the boot shaft. Measure from the arch to the top of the shaft. Know a few common measurements. Also consider heel height.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Do not touch the metal probes while connecting them to a circuit. If the insulation looks worn or torn, wear electrically insulated gloves or purchase replacement leads. The two metal probes should never touch each other while they are connected to a circuit, or severe sparking could result. Test circuits for voltage by attaching the leads in parallel. In other words, you'll touch the probes to two points an already-closed circuit, with current running through it.  On a battery, touch the black lead to the negative terminal. In a wall outlet, touch the black lead into the neutral hole, which in the US is the larger vertical hole, or the vertical hole on the left. Whenever possible, let go of the black test lead before moving on. Many black probes have a small plastic bump that can stick into an outlet. This will complete the parallel circuit and cause the meter to display the voltage.  On a battery, touch the red lead to the positive terminal. In a wall outlet, fit the red lead into the "hot" hole – in the US, this is the smaller, vertical or the vertical hole on the right. Immediately raise the range to a higher voltage setting if you get one of the following results, before your device is damaged:  Your digital display reads "OL," "overload," or "1." Note that "1V" is a real reading, and nothing to worry about. Your analog needle shoots to the other side of the scale. You may need to make adjustments if a digital voltmeter display reads 0V or nothing at all, or if an analog voltmeter's needle has barely moved. If there is still no reading, try the following in order:  Make sure the test probes are both connected to the circuit. If you are measuring a DC circuit and get no result, look for a small knob or switch on your device labeled DC+ and DC- and move it to the other position. If your device does not have this option, reverse the positions of the black and red probes. Reduce the range by one setting. Repeat if necessary until you get a real reading. A digital voltmeter will clearly display the voltage on its electronic screen. An analog voltmeter is a little more complicated, but not too tough once you learn the ropes. Continue reading for instructions.

SUMMARY:
Hold the probes safely. Touch the black test lead to one part of the circuit. Touch the red test lead to another point on the circuit. Raise the range if you get an overload reading. Adjust the voltmeter if necessary. Read the voltmeter.