As we consider what our church life might look like in a more “normal” state, the staff and leadership have discussed ways that Avenue can be more hospitable to guests and 1st-time attenders. If you’ve ever had to go to a church for the first time (in other words, if you weren’t born attending Avenue), you know what a daunting task it can be to come to church. There are some practical things that we (who are regular attenders) can keep in mind to be more intentional about integrating first-time guests into the community at Avenue. I want to thank Rebecca McLaughlin (via @markhallock on Twitter) for the ideas!

1. A Person Sitting Alone Constitutes and Emergency | When we see someone sitting alone, we have an opportunity to introduce ourselves and invite that person to sit with us. One of the barriers for new people coming to worship is the fear that they won’t know anyone or sit alone. While they may say no and be alright sitting alone, the invitation goes a long way to helping that person feel welcome. (of course, during COVID, we may have to be wise about how we do this.)
2. Your Friends Can Wait | Over the last twenty years in ministry, I see this as one of the most significant barriers to being a welcoming church. We can become so cliquish that we don’t intentionally look for new people to welcome. On the one hand, this is good because we have found friends to worship and grow together. On the other hand, it is a barrier because the guest will see the cliques quickly and recognize that they don’t fit in. Your friends can wait (and will wait) to catch up with you. A guest will not wait to come back if they do not feel welcomed and included.
3. Introduce Newcomers to Someone | The gym I attend does a great job of this. I participated in group workouts, and when there is someone new trying out the class for the first time, our coach introduces the newcomer to the people around them. It helps to build community and makes them immediately feel included. When you meet a guest in worship, introduce them to your friends or the people sitting around them. Help them feel like they are part of the community. As you talk, you may find common interests and connections that are shared.

Here in Delaware, our governor recently announced that most capacity restrictions would be lifted for churches beginning May 21^st, 2021. Just as we’ve seen guests attend Avenue over the past six months, I expect that we will continue to newcomers. Even during the worship service, we must be missionaries, who are called to “go” to new people and help them get connected to the love of God through Jesus Christ.