The Bridge in Plain Text
Issue To Be Used Any Time After
Feb. 1, 2008
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The Bridge
A monthly publication of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
Connecting the congregational, synodical, and churchwide expressions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Hospitality Ministry
The church often talks about
ministering to members and about ministering in the world through gifts of
time and money, but one ministry that is easy to address but often forgotten
is the ministry of hospitality, of opening welcoming arms to all who venture
into our lives and our doorways.
The Evangelism pages of the
ELCA web site offer a hospitality survey. Congregations can use this, and
individuals can use it to rate their own hospitality in worship and other
parts of their lives.
"You can only make a first
impression once." A person looking for a permanent church home, or just
needing to experience God with the congregation for a short time, will form
opinions about the church within moments. Informing the community in a
welcoming way about worship and special events, clear and welcoming signage,
well-maintained and attractive facilities, handicap accessible facilities,
and welcoming and helpful people to assist where needed all contribute to
positive first impressions.
Another area of hospitality is
the time and space between the door and the service. Signs clearly directing
people (sanctuary, bathrooms, nursery, offices, etc.), greeters taught to
effectively welcome guests, members who "adopt" guests by introducing them
to others and answering questions, an information area with materials about
the congregation, name tags, and a clean, staffed nursery are ways to
welcome visitors.
Hospitality does not end with
“hello.” Welcoming guests without embarrassing them early in the worship
service, including children in the service, providing easy-to-follow and
attractive worship materials (they may not know how things are "supposed to
go"), utilizing an effective method of guest registration for easy follow-up
(pew pads or attendance cards receive better responses than a guest book),
simple announcements to assist worshippers in following along, appropriate
music that welcomes participation by all and is sensitive to the worship and
geographical community, clear directions about who is welcome at communion
and how the elements are distributed, resources about Lutheran beliefs and
practices, and different styles of worship are all ways of making worship
itself welcoming.
Finally, hospitality requires
follow through. A refreshment and conversation time following worship is a
great way to incorporate guests into a community they just joined in
worship. It is helpful to personally invite visitors so they know it is not
an exclusive group. Follow-up, either by the pastor or lay members of the
congregation, through calls in the days following their visit remind guests
of their (hopefully) positive experience and allow them to ask any further
question.
These are just a few
suggestions. Congregations are encouraged to discuss additional ways to
welcome.
Featured Resource
Monthly Bible Verse
This Bible verse was selected by Harold Usgaard, bishop of the
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, for everyone in the synod to study.
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes
me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Matthew
10:40
About Our Synod
The Southeastern Minnesota Synod is a faith community of 130,000 baptized
people in 184 congregations as well as related institutions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Its geographic area includes
15 counties in the southeastern corner of Minnesota.
The Bridge is a monthly
publication of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA. For more information,
contact the synod office:
Southeastern Minnesota Synod,
ELCA
1001 14th St. NW, Suite 300
Rochester, MN 55901-2551
(507) 280-9457
www.semnsynod.org
This issue is designed to be
used any time after Feb. 1, 2008.
Graphics from this issue
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call 507-280-9457.
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