A Faith Journey…
In January we welcomed 34 new members into our community. Seventeen had joined during the previous year but had not been introduced to the congregation and an additional seventeen joined in January of this year. It is a joy and a privilege to meet with the new members and hear about their decision making process with membership. I am always reminded that it is indeed a journey of belonging.
The Membership Committee did a wonderful job of hosting a fun and informative newcomer dinner. A New Member Ceremony followed later in the month with the Membership Committee greeting the new members in the morning, taking pictures and offering instruction. The pictures from that day are now conveniently posted on the bulletin board in the vestibule. Please note: not all members are included.
But the welcome does not stop here. Integration is the next step. Helping our new members find meaning and purpose in our community is a task that belongs to the larger congregation.
Welcoming and integrating newcomers and new members often requires us to step outside our comfort zone. If we accept the recommendation of Jesus and others that we become like children, the task of welcoming and integrating becomes easier. Consider this: When a new family moves into a new home, the neighborhood children often invite the new children to join them at play almost immediately. ~ John C. Morgan (adapted)
How do we move beyond the welcome to integrate and encourage people new in our community to be a part of the larger church life? I have a few ideas:
Call a new member and invite them to a church event.
Ask a new member or visitor to join you at fellowship hour. Introduce them to people you know.
Ask a new member about their interests or passions. Then take the time to introduce them to someone else with a similar passion or interest.
Approach someone standing alone in the hall or fellowship hall with this introduction “Hello. My name is Carie. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Talk to the new members about small group ministry. Introduce them to Kathy Kellison, our Small Group Ministry Coordinator.
If you chair a committee or sit on a committee, ask a new member if they have any interest in your committee work. If so, ask them to come to a meeting.
They say if a new member doesn’t make six connections in the early days of their membership, they will leave. Our community is richer and wiser with new members. Their presence helps us in our own growing, belonging and becoming. We are grateful they are among us.
May we all take up the charge of helping all members find and maintain meaningful connections.
In faith,
Carie