What is an RSS feed?

RSS is a method of subscribing to web sites with information that changes often. Subscribing to an RSS feed is convenient. If the web site provides an RSS feed, you don't have to visit the site to check for changes. Instead, you will be alerted to changes by your "live" bookmarks or RSS email account. The words behind the acronym "RSS" have evolved. If you don't know what "RSS" is, those words don't help explain it.

How do I subscribe?

There are several ways. Use a browser, your email application, or an aggregator. Aggregators are available to download for free. These applications were the first way to subscribe to RSS feeds. Later versions of browsers and email applications incorporate options to subscribe to RSS feeds, so separate aggregators are no longer required.

• Internet Explorer browser version 7.0 or later, or Mozilla Firefox browser version 2.0.0.0 or later

  When you browse a site that offers an RSS feed such as http://www.elca.org/rss/news/, or http://www.goodshepherdchurch.net/news.xml, a dialog at the top of the browser page will invite you to subscribe.

• Outlook email, or Outlook Express email

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• Mozilla Thunderbird email version 2.0.0.0 or later

  First, before you can subscribe to any RSS feeds, you need to create an RSS account. To do so:

  1. Go to the "File" menu and select "New -> Account". Alternatively, you can go to the "Tools" menu and select "Account Settings", and click on the "Add Account" button.
  2. In the dialog box that pops up, select "RSS News & Blogs" and press the "Next" button.
  3. Enter an account name such as "RSSfeeds", press the "Next" button, and finally press the "Finish" button. This new account will now appear in the folders pane next to your other e-mail accounts in the main Thunderbird window.

  Second, subscribe to one or more RSS feeds. One way to subscribe to a feed through the "RSS Subscriptions" dialog is to right-click on the account name in the folders pane and select "Manage Subscriptions". Once you've brought up the "RSS Subscriptions" dialog, click the "Add" button, paste the URL for the feed (e.g. http://www.elca.org/rss/news/ or http://www.goodshepherdchurch.net/news.xml) into the box, and click "OK" New items that appear in the RSS feed account will look similar to your e-mail in box.