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Volume 13, Issue 4

November-December 2010

Inviting by Pat Hertzler

Congregational Life

• Birth Announcement  (Sophie Nice) 

• New Team Leaders

• Adult Education Team

• "Among Women"

Local Outreach

• Ride for a Princess

• Thanksgiving Grocery Bags

The Envoy at the Meadow -Goochland by Meghan Schaefer

Christmas 

• Sharing

  • Christmas Shoe Boxes

  • Angel Tree

• Christmas Theme

• Special Events

From the Pastor's Heart

• All Are Welcome

• PMC "Mystery Guest Report"

Inviting ~ Building ~ Equipping

Inviting people to seek Christ

Building each other up in the faith

Equipping one another to serve

Inviting

           When I invite guests to our home for a meal, I make special efforts to be sure our home is welcoming and comfortable. I do some extra housecleaning so it is neat and clean, and set the table  attractively.  I want people to have a good time, and I want to be a gracious hostess. This takes a little extra work, but it says to my guests I care about them and they are special to me.  If my house is in order, I am better able to focus on my guests.

            Mr. Webster offers the following definitions of inviting:

· To offer an incentive or inducement to

· To increase the likelihood of

· To request the presence or participation of

           For our church to be an “inviting” church, we have to be gracious hosts.  We want people to enjoy coming to worship with us—to feast at the table of God.  The Worship Team has been  looking at ways we can be a more welcoming and comfortable place that encourages people to seek a relationship with God.

          As a church we are often complimented on our friendliness.  But maybe there are other things we can do to make our place of worship more attractive so people can relax and focus on worship.

          The Worship Team, in coordination with other teams, has been working on areas of housekeeping.

· Better signage outside and inside the building. (Facilities & Communications Team)

· Updated decor at the front of the auditorium.

· Decluttering of hallways.

· Better coordination and flow of our morning worship service.

· Improved quality of our sound system. (Media Team)

· Reserved seating for guests, late-comers and parents with young children.

· Ushering, greeting, and handing out information packets to first time attendees. (First Impressions Team)

· Lunch for guests following the service. (Women’s Ministry Team)

· Nursery for young children during the worship service. (Children’s Ministry Team)

· Use of the overhead for announcements, song lyrics, page numbers, etc.

· Updated information on the church sign. (Communications Team)

· Sunday School classes that meet the needs of all attendees. (Children’s and Adult Education Teams)

· Cards sent to people who share a need or prayer request. (Prayer Team)

· Maintaining attractive flower beds and grounds. (Facilities Team)

· Attractive bulletin boards that are maintained and coordinated with the season. (Decorations Committee)

· Greeters outside or at the doors. (Future)

           Each one of these items is important. It says to our guests your presence is important to us.  It makes us feel good about our facility and increases the likelihood we will invite a friend or neighbor to church.

          Maybe there is more we can do.  Stand back and take a fresh look.  Pretend you are a guest and visiting for the first time.  It takes each one of us to be a gracious host or hostess and to get our house in order.

By Pat Hertzler