How Our Presbytery Welcomes Strangers...

        How do you say “Hello!” to a stranger?  Handshake?  Slap on the back?  Or a cold shoulder?  As Christians we are admonished by Jesus that as “I was a stranger and you welcomed me ... ” we should do to all (Matt. 24:35).

        Here is how churches in our Presbytery interpret Matthew by opening their doors to strangers visiting the church …

        Many churches “practice hospitality” by having greeters at the door to welcome visitors.  Often churches have visitors sign a welcome pad, including First Presbyterian of Monterey, Trinity Presbyterian  of San Jose, Sunnyvale Presbyterian, and West Valley.

        But after service is also important.  Some churches emphasize seeking out new visitors in the friendship or coffee hour.  Some expect their regular congregants to be the “hospitality” ministers; others encourage their Elders or Deacons to look for new faces.

        For follow-up, most churches will send out a personal letter from the pastor with various enticements.  At St. Andrew the visitor receives a copy of the church newsletter, while at Westminster Church the letter comes with a Baskin-Robbins coupon.  And at West Valley first-time visitors who sign the “Welcome Card” receive a dozen freshly-baked cookies!

        Others also understand the “gift of giving”:  Morgan Hill, for example, gives out a tote bag printed with the church name, folded and tied with a ribbon, and containing in its pocket their purpose and life statement and church program brochure. 

        Most churches will follow up further, with a phone call or a visit from a Deacon.  Special teams, such as the “Evangelism Team” at Covenant or the “Sunday Hospitality Team” being formed at Sunnyvale Presbyterian, have as a goal either approaching new visitors or training others to be greeters.

        New-member lunches or dinners seem to be part of the welcoming package at many of our Presbytery churches.  For example, again at Sunnyvale, they host a quarterly “Friends’ Dinner” with the pastor and church members to facilitate conversations and answer questions.   They invite 15 to 20 visitors.

        West Valley also sponsors a brunch three or four times a year, and Stone hosts a lunch for its newest members every six months.

        If phoning, feeding, or facilitating still doesn’t attract and keep visitors, there is always this:  a free publication from Presbyterian Distribution Service (1-888-728-7228; 5252) called “Being a Welcoming Congregation” (PDS 72-303-00-003).

 

© 1996-2005 The Presbytery of San José