Dear Friends, 

Many people relocate during the summer months, often triggering a fresh start in every area of life—including faith. At St. Paul’s, therefore, summer is not only the season of outdoor worship, holy hikes, carillon concerts, and our annual ice cream social; it is also a golden opportunity to welcome newcomers into our faith community. Whether they learned about us from a friend, followed the sound of the carillon or discovered us by searching online, research shows that most visitors know within the first five minutes whether they will return for a second visit. Wow! That means that each of us plays an important role in the visitor’s experience.

At a church the size of ours, it can be difficult to distinguish between a visitor and a member who regularly worships at a different service than you do. In either case, an introduction will help the other person know that you are interested in making their acquaintance. You might extend your hand and say something like “Good morning. I’m ___. I’m not sure if we’ve met before.” (*Hint: Do NOT ask “Are you a visitor?” as this could lead to an awkward interaction if the answer is “no.”)

If they are already a member, then you just met someone new with whom you already have a connection! If they are a visitor, you might say something like, “Welcome to St. Paul’s! I’m glad you are worshipping with us today.” Then let the conversation unfold with open-ended questions, such as, “How did you learn about St. Paul’s?” and “What are you interested in?” What a great way to discover what you have in common!

If you meet them before a service, your welcome might also include an invitation for them to sit with you. This way you can help the newcomer follow the service in the bulletin, find the hymns to sing, and become familiar with our Episcopalian lingo.

If you meet them after the service, your welcome might include an invitation to join you at coffee hour where you can introduce them to parishioners and staff members. Together we can individualize their experience at St. Paul’s while also fostering a sense of community.

Another important step is for the visitor to complete a Welcome Card. Giving it to the ushers or a staff member allows me to enter their church search. I contact them and arrange a meeting to discuss their interests, what they hope to find in a spiritual home, and whether St. Paul’s might be a good fit.

For many people, summer is the season of fresh starts—new homes, new schools, and a new search for community and connection. It is, therefore, the perfect time for us all to strengthen our welcoming skills. Doing so could lay the foundation of a relationship that lasts for years to come, no matter which service you participate in!

With an open heart,

Kirsten Radivoyevitch