The celebrating congregation for guests
A low threshold church and a feeling of welcome
Of course not all services are suitable for newcomers. There will be many things that they find which are strange and incomprehensible, but there are also times when church services could be suitable for guests. What are these in your congregation?
Think first of all of the services on the important Christian festivals, especially Christmas. Many people who would not normally go to church do attend at Christmas. For example, Christmas Eve midnight services the churches are usually very full.
What opportunities do these major Christian festivals present for mission? Do you consider the newcomer to your church? Do you think to yourself ‘this is the only time we may see him/her’, or maybe ‘is he sitting in my pew’?
Then there are the services at life’s crossroads: baptism, marriage and funeral. These are often occasions when friends and relatives come into contact with the church for the first time.
“If this is what the church is like, I would like to come more often”, somebody said after the end of a funeral service.
At such hospitable celebrations we often use the expression ‘low threshold’. This does not mean there is a ban on long and difficult words or that everything has to be kept very simple. A low threshold refers to a hospitable atmosphere in which the guests are made welcome and the worshipped is shaped with them in mind. Do visitors feel welcome and visible? Are they welcome without feeling overwhelmed?
“When we got to the church we were given a letter with information. That is very handy and also I did not feel such an exception.”
“A kind lady with a name badge showed me where the facilities were and helped me with the hymnbook.”
A number of suggestions
- Research suggests that people who join the church find the sermon important. When the preacher demonstrates an understanding of the world, newcomers are amazed. When the preacher tries to make connections between the Bible and everyday life people become curious. The language of Canaan and a preachy voice do not help and build unnecessary thresholds.
- There are many church services that are open to guests, such as youth services and al-age parade services. What about the normal Sunday service? If hospitality is an exception and not the rule, then something is wrong. People do not usually come of their own accord. Ask your neighbours, friends and acquaintances to come to church with you. People who have never seen the inside of a church. A nice written invitation would help. There are all sorts of material for this for example “Back to Church Sunday.”
- Why not hold ‘paired services’? On two successive Sundays exactly the same low threshold service is organise. After the first service the congregation are given information and invitations to share with friends or relatives to come to the service on the following Sunday. They know exactly what they can expect and to what sort of service they invite someone.
- It is also important that the ‘special service’ does not remain an isolated incident, think about the follow-up. What happens if people want to know more? Whom can they contact or speak to after the end of the service.
- Could you promote a group or orientation course within the invitation or on an order of service?
Possible approaches for the church
- As church reflects on the church services in your congregation, which services in your congregation would be suitable for guests? How do you invite them?
- Could you set up new celebrations or services that would be attractive to guests? Involve people who have dropped out and those on the edge of the church. What do they miss in the service now they no longer attend?
- Do not forget the young people in all this. What do they have problems with in the regular services? Can this be changed?
- How can you improve the hospitality around the church services? Make a list with possibilities and ask congregation members to help in the working out of your plans.
