Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada

Walking through the doors of a church can be intimidating, and a friendly greeting can make the difference between visitors feeling at home and wishing they'd just slept in.

1. Begin the task of greeting prayerfully.

Take a quiet moment to pray that you will be able to see the face of Christ in everyone you meet and that everyone you meet will see the face of Christ in you.

2. Take responsibility.

If you see visitors or newcomers at church and think, "Somebody ought to make those people feel welcome," chances are good that somebody should be you.

3. Introduce yourself.

Some congregations have name tags to help people remember one another's name, but nothing beats a friendly introduction for making a connection. If newcomers introduce themselves to you, work hard to remember their names.

4. Be inquisitive, but not an inquisitor.

Genuine curiosity can be a sign of hospitality. Everybody has a rich and complicated history. Ask questions to help you understand who people really are, not simply to slot them into a category.

5. Play the tour guide.

Newcomers may be unfamiliar with the worship format, the church school or nursery, the location of the washrooms, and other things that regulars take for granted. A little bit of information can help newcomers feel more comfortable.

6. Invite the visitor or newcomer to stay for coffee.

If your congregation has coffee time after worship, encourage visitors to join you for refreshments. Commit yourself to spending some time in conversation. (Don't leave them standing in the corner with a cup of coffee and a cookie, talking to the potted plants!)

7. Introduce newcomers to other members of the congregation.

This helps connect newcomers to the whole community. It's also a good way to avoid abandoning a visitor if you have to leave or want to talk to someone else.

8. Watch for the signals.

Some visitors want to be inconspicuous, while others are simply shy and want to be drawn out. Pay attention to non-verbal cues, and if someone wants to keep a low profile make sure they know you are happy to see them and then let them find their own space.

Be Aware

• Don't assume that anyone you don't recognize is a visitor. It can be off-putting for long-time members to be asked to sign the guest book. An opening line like, "I'm sorry, I can't remember; have we met?" can be handy.
• Although asking people to stand up in church and be welcomed may be nice for the proud grandma who has grandchildren visiting from out of town, many newcomers would rather be knocked over by a fruit truck. Consider a more generic public welcome.

Originally published in The Unofficial United Church Handbook. Please see the UCRD web page for more information.