So, we posed a question last night in our Session meeting. What do we want for the church? Another way of asking, how do we see ourselves serving the heart of God? More people, naturally enough. We want to compete with the sports that pull away our kids. We want more young folks. We want to be out in the community more. No one suggested that we should form a committee! Or even worse, farm the question out to one of the teams we already had in operation.
This question comes on the heels of a double heaping of musical joy from this Sunday past. I do not think there is enough I can say about the Cantata, the joyful music of God's Word in worship. For those who were not able to join us in the evening for the chamber music (which I believe is how our own Sean Baker described it) performance, well, lets just say there is a tradition in the works there for our church (but don't tell Sean yet...wink, wink).
I think a good answer to the question of "what we want for the church" can be found in consideration of what God has prepared to give to us. And God has people ready for us. How has God prepared them? Those possibilities are as vast as God is. Could be as random as a hit on our website. Could be an invitation they received from one of our folks excited about our Cantata. Could be an interaction that seemed so random at first. Could be an offer to pray on someone's behalf. We may or may not be able to track how God worked to send people to join us.
The question for us to consider is how we are ready to receive them? I was once told about the 'vampire approach', a church that was so desperately welcoming of 'fresh blood' in their midst. I was, once in my earlier life, one of those people who was embarrassed yet peer pressured into standing up to be welcomed as a visitor to the church (I am grateful they did not have special VISITOR badges or T-shirts that we might have been asked to wear).
How do we receive new folks? We take it upon ourselves to be intentionally welcoming, to delight in the special gift of everyone who comes through our doors. For an example, consider how we greet our old friends in church, especially if we have not seen them for awhile? That is the heart to bring to those God has brought to us.
Take pains to learn people's names, and to give your own. Be ready not simply to point out the bathroom, but to walk someone down the hall, because its a bit of a mystery. Point through the sliding door toward the bathroom and people first find themselves in the chapel. Ask folks if they have any questions about the bulletins. Perhaps share that things are written down but also up on the screens. Invite them to coffee and cake in the Hearth Room after.
Where we are going to need some help is in the support of these efforts? We are big on prayer, to the point of a box for requests. Our intent is to have 'Prayer Requests' in the pews for people to use. We urge generosity, we are going to stock our pews with Giving Envelopes. We would like to know who folks are to follow up with them. We are revamping our Guest Cards as we speak.
These offerings then require follow up. I have a rule I try to follow, "Do not introduce a paper that you do not intend to use." So, a Guest Card, follow up in the week to follow. A prayer request, follow up even sooner, day of if things are urgent. The thing of it is, none of this is 'new and untested' but these elements are already in our sanctuary.
Then we come to the boogyman of new ideas in the church. "Someone" should do this. We need "someone" to make sure the welcoming materials are up to date and replenished (and the pencils are sharpened...does anyone know where we have a sharpener in easy access?) We need "someone" to follow up. Then there is the bane of new ideas in the church. Isn't that fill in the blank's job? Name the role, name the committee, push it on them?
God has folks ready for us. Who feels, in their heart, that this is a place that God is calling for a response? Have questions? Wondering about the expectations? That's good! Let's talk and pray. Our church offers the most amazing opportunity each week to worship the Lord with music and presence and community, who would like to share that with someone else?
Talk to me on Sunday, email or call me, I would love to tell you more.
Peace,
Pastor Peter
No comments:
Post a Comment