How to tell if someone is a visitor or newcomer to Mass

A tip from a Parish Staff member!

 

 

How can you tell if someone attending Mass is a newcomer or visitor?  Maybe you have many parishioners at your parish.  Enough, so that it is impossible to recognize everyone.  Especially if it is a Mass you don't normally attend.

 

Kathi Rowley of Mary, Queen of Peace recently gave us this tip.  "If they have to ask for or are looking for the bathroom, they probably haven't been there before."  She pays attention to those who pop out of Mass and are obviously hunting for something!  What a brilliant idea. So for all of you that are working on welcoming...give it a try.

(Thanks to Kathi for this tip!)

 

She also shared her parish's 3 step process to make contact with newcomers.  During the week in which they register, two senior parish volunteers with the 'gift of gab', call the newcomers and welcome them.  A month later, the pastor makes a phone call to welcome them again.  Finally, 6 months out, someone from the pastoral council calls them again.   This is working well for our Sammamish parish and we think it will work well for you.  If you try this, please let us know by emailing parishstewardship@seattlearch.org.  As always, we welcome your comments. 

Easter Stewardship

The big day is almost here, and since we have so many folks join us this Sunday that aren't around on other weekends, it's important as good Stewards and Evangelists that we make them feel welcome. Here are some tips:

• Make sure it is clear where to park – especially if the usual church parking lot is full.  And it hopefully will be!  Is handicapped parking easily found?

• Make sure it is clear how to get from the parking lot into the church.   (Not always clear! And rarely as clear as we 'experienced' folks think it is.)

• Ask those good & faithful folks who attend every week to sit towards the front and scoot towards center to make it as easy  as possible for less regular attendees - especially since they might be last minute arrivals.

• You want to make everyone feel welcomed as they come in the church - in a subtle and stress free way.  Consider having the ushers/greeters hand out a worship aid or something else to worshippers as they come in.   For most of us, it is usually easy to say hello and welcome people if we have something to give them.  You might even ask kids to help out with this.   Non-regular attendees might be less suspicious of children handing something out.

• Make sure there is some ‘Welcome’ info in the pew envelope holders with the pew envelopes, and definitely make sure the pew envelopes are well-stocked – they DO make a difference.

• Consider handing out a gift after Mass as people leave, like a Prayer card, flower or some such item.  Make a special gift for the kids such as a bag of jelly beans or little plastic easter egg with candy inside.

We hope these ideas help you make your church an inviting, friendly place that says Welcome to all on Easter.

 

Great Evangelization Resource for Parishes

Welcome Newcomers Back On The Path

 

During Lent it is not uncommon – and hopefully we expect – to see the faces of those who rarely, if ever, come through our doors.  We want to encourage as many people as possible to come into our churches during Lent and Easter.   I’ve found a great deal of resources and inspiration from the Paulist Evangelization Ministries.  If you haven’t checked out the Paulist’s and their evangelization resources, or haven’t checked them out in a while, I’d encourage you to do so – especially during a season when we hope to see so many unfamiliar faces.  http://www.pemdc.org/    Sign up for their weekly Evangelization Exchange email.