A Welcoming Congregation

I've been doing a little research to help out one of our church council members who is writing a newsletter article for the September newsletter. It's amazing how much good stuff (and how much junk) there is online these days.

One of the good things I found online today is a set of "Tools for a Healthy Congregation," on an archived page of the ELCA website. There are three sections: Faithful, Welcoming and Generous. In addition to descriptions and stories to go along with each adjective, there are self-assessments showing how a congregation can becoming more faithful, welcoming and generous. If you decide to take any of the assessments, let me know what you learn!

Here's a great description of a Welcoming Congregation:
To be a welcoming congregation is to learn to welcome strangers as neighbors. It means moving from the mindset of “We know everybody here” to “I wonder who will come next; I can’t wait to get to know them!”
In welcoming congregations ALL members bear the responsibility of being a greeter. They have adopted the norm that they speak to at least one stranger BEFORE they speak to their friends. If they see someone they don’t know, they introduce themselves and welcome the visitor.

Do you think YOU could make it a habit to speak to at least one person you don't know (beyond just smiling and saying, "Good morning") before you talk to your friends and family here at CtK? You might be surprised how many regular worshipers you DON'T know. You might be the first to welcome someone new to Bozeman and new to the congregation.

How might the Holy Spirit use YOU on a regular old Sunday, to extend hospitality and welcome to new folks as well as the CtK "regulars?" What are some places, and who are some people, who have made you feel welcome when you've been the newbie? What can you learn from them?

Do you think you could make it a habit to talk to someone of a different generation at least once a week? How long would it take to get to know the names of every middle school and high school student? All of the elementary school kids? How would you feel if every Sunday a whole bunch of kids ran up to you to say "Hi!" and give you a high five? (It feels pretty great, trust me).

What do you have to lose?