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Welcome to the final week of Advent. I trust you are in anticipation of receiving this week's Advent gift, the divine gift of Joy. Throughout this symbolic 4 week journey we have received the divine gifts of Faith, Peace, and Love. Adding Joy this Sunday completes the imminent birth of Christ into humanity which is surely our finest gift!
So, last week, my weekly “Bobby Pen” talked about church attendance and this Sunday will likely be one of those weeks where attendees increase. For us old timers, it may be just another Christmas service as usual. But, what about those first-time guests that have never experienced our church, our
welcoming energy, or our message before? How will they feel, and how will they be received by our regular churchgoers?
I remember the first time I walked into a Unity church and how the music was like spiritual magic to me. When I think back, I can remember multiple people coming up to me and welcoming me into their space. The other thing I remember that was scary for me was when they asked the first-time guests to raise their hands. I really wanted them to know I was new, but didn't want to be the center of attention.
This Sunday will likely include some first-time folks who are coming to visit with family and friends. How we receive them will have a great impact on whether they will feel safe and want to return for more of our special love and hospitality.
I believe one of the greatest joys for me as a senior minister is when I get to meet first-time visitors. In my first few months of being your minister, I would invite every first-time visitor to lunch or dinner. I did this so I could get to know them and collect some data on how they found and felt about our church. It seemed to go well at first, and then multiple first-timers stood me up. So, I decided to just call and check in with them instead. So, every Monday, our dedicated Linda Luking forwards the name(s) of every first-timer from the day before. I call them that day and if there is no answer, I leave a message asking them to save my mobile number in case they ever need prayer, support, or simply have questions about our church. If there's no phone number, I email them with the same information. I'm always surprised at how well I am received by the first-time visitors.
So, what can you do to help us welcome our first-time guests? AI had a few suggestions for us:
Key elements of a welcoming greeting:
A genuine smile: A friendly facial expression is the first step to making someone feel welcome.
Personal introduction: Say "Hi, my name is [your name]" to establish a connection.
Direct welcome: "Welcome to [church name]".
Acknowledge their first-time visit: "It looks like this might be
your first time here today?"
Offer assistance: "Do you have any questions about where
to find things?" or "Would you like me to show you around?"
Connection card: Hand them a card to collect their contact
information and provide details about the church.
Other welcoming gestures:
Handshakes or hugs (depending on church culture): A physical gesture can add warmth to the greeting.
Offer a small gift: A welcome pamphlet, coffee, or a small token can be a nice touch. (We offer all of this including our beautiful candle token)
Engage in conversation: Ask simple questions about where they are from or what brought them to the church.
Introduce them to other members: Briefly connect them with people sitting nearby.
Important points to remember:
Be approachable and enthusiastic: Your positive attitude will make a big difference.
Be respectful of personal space: Not everyone is comfortable with physical contact, so observe cues.
Follow up after the service: Send a welcome email or message to further connect with the new visitor.
And finally, I have decided to ask people to raise their hands “if they feel comfortable to do so.” If not, we will have a candle and packet at our ambassador's table to welcome them to our community.
This week's Advent gift is one you can share with our first-time guests, our fellow congregants, and everyone else you encounter: the gift of JOY!
Join this Sunday for a JOY-filled service as I share how we can live a thriving life by using our divine gift of joy.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Blessings, Rev. Bobby
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