April 18, 2011

Losing Your Pew, Gaining ground

Prepare to lose your regular pew this Sunday.

Churches are full-to-the-brim on Easter Sunday, with twice-a-year, Christmas-and-Easter guests and first-time visitors feeling inspired to make more of the day than egg hunts and candy-swapping.
 
A lot of regular church attenders look at the influx with derision, considering the visitors as interlopers. But congregations should see this as a great opportunity, not only to see the action from a new pew and perspective but also to witness the joy of being a part of a church family.

This Easter Sunday, practice radical hospitality. Make sure to have additional greeters (not ushers – they hand out the bulletins and collect the offering, among other duties; greeters are on hand to warmly welcome visitors, answer questions and accompany them to coffee hour – or the Easter egg hunt). The greeters also should have a method for getting the names, addresses (snail mail AND e-mail), and phone numbers of the visitors.

Hopefully the bulletin takes into account the number of people who may not be as familiar with Episcopal practice. It should include page numbers and notes of instruction – and avoid jargon and acronyms.

During the peace, look beyond your small circle to see who is standing alone, bewildered and handshake-less. Offer the peace with a smile and a quick, “We’re so glad you’re here today.”
As the service ends, make your way to the visitors and ask if you can accompany them to coffee hour.

On Monday morning (or even Sunday afternoon, if you’re so inspired), a member of the church should drop off a welcome package to the visitors. This can be a loaf of bread, a jar of jam, or a mug for coffee, as well as a few pamphlets of introduction about the local church and The Episcopal Church (tracts from Forward Movement Publications are great – and inexpensive).
This follow-up is critical. Make it part of your Easter discipline. Maybe on the following Sunday (often called Low Sunday because lots of folks decide they’ve fulfilled their requisite church attendance), you’ll see a few returning faces.

Sitting in a new pew is a pretty low price to pay to expand the community of believers.