Study: Welcoming Congregation – Week 2

Aug 17, 2016

WEEK 2 – August 23, 2016

PART 1: The Roots of Hospitality

 

CHAPTER 2: Sites

STUDY NOTES

Best Practices: Greeting Gurests

Make sure each guest is greeted at least three ties before seating.

Choose greeters who project warmth and smile readily.

When giving directions, use an open hand rather than a pointing gesture.

Once worship begins, be responsive to guests’ needs, but don’t intrude or single them out.

Best Practices: Think Like A Host

Focus on serving others and making them comfortable, not on whether you are having a good time.

Greet everyone, not just people you already know.

Make sure your building is an inviting place, and pay attention to things like lighting, seating, and signage.

 

Best Practices: A Welcoming Website

Remember that many guests’ first impressions of your church happen online, not in person.

Be sure that your Website has clear and easy-to-find instructions on attending worship service and classes.

Design the Website with links to your congregation’s various ministries and outreach programs.

 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the “threshold places” in your church building? Are they bridges between the church and the world around it or barriers, how can they be turned into bridges?

  2. In your own church involvement, do you think of yourself as a host? What could you do to play this role better?

  3. When have you acted as a host and experienced a holy moment?

  4. How could your church building be modified to meet the needs of guests, in addition to the needs of members?

  5. If your church has a Website, is it easy for a stranger to navigate? How could it be improved?

Action Plan:

As an individual, a couple of friends, or a family, do an assessment of St. Matthias Church Buildings and grounds.  Try to look at our buildings and grounds through the eyes of an outsider and make notes on how various spaces in the church could be made more hospitable. Take pictures of entrances and public spaces. Pay attention to signage and whether it is easy or difficult to find various rooms.

Also, visit neighboring churches and observe what they are doing to make their building more welcoming. Consolidate your findings and present a brief report to Fr. Jim who will consolidate all the information and report the findings to the vestry and then the whole church.

SEE ALL PUBLISHED STUDY NOTES