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OPEN DOORS: Inviting Families to Church

OPEN DOORS: Inviting Families to Church. The Rev. Canon Linda L. Grenz Canon to the Ordinary. Why focus on families?.

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OPEN DOORS: Inviting Families to Church

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  1. OPEN DOORS:Inviting Families to Church The Rev. Canon Linda L. Grenz Canon to the Ordinary

  2. Why focus on families? • Children and youth are 28% of the US population but only 17% of our church population—which means they are the largest “unreached” group. Focusing on families with children means we reach children, teens and young adults (their parents). • Data from “Facts on Growth 2010” a report by • the Hartford Institute for Religion Research 28% of US population 17% of church population

  3. Why focus on families? • There is a direct relationship between the participation of children, youth and young adults and church growth. Only 21% of churches with fewer than 10% under 34-year-olds show growth while 42% of churches with more than 41% of their members under age 34 show growth. • Data from “Facts on Growth 2010” a report by • the Hartford Institute for Religion Research 42% of churches with 41% or more under the age of 34 grow 32% with 21-40 % under the age of 34 grow 29% with 11-20% under 34 grow 21% with 10% under 34 grow

  4. FOUR KEY ENTRY POINTS • FALL: Start of Sunday School • WINTER: Christmas Pageant • SPRING: Easter • SUMMER: Vacation Bible School

  5. FALL SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER • Back to School Party • Launch of Sunday School • Blessing of Backpacks • Blessing of the Animals • Thanksgiving

  6. WINTER DECEMBER-JANUARY • St. Nicholas Day Party • Christmas Pageant • Lessons and Carols • Winter VBS • Epiphany

  7. SPRING FEBURARY-MAY • Lent • Palm Sunday & Holy Week • Easter Vigil & Easter Day • Compassion Sunday • Holy Humor Sunday • Pentecost

  8. SUMMER JUNE-AUGUST • Vacation Bible School • Summer Church • Intergenerational Learning Events • Fun and Fellowship Events • Worship in a New Way

  9. GOING OUT • Play Ball! • Do Good • Family Fun • Museum Mornings • Eat Around the World • Build It and They Will Come • Musical Tunes • Art Festival • Play Time

  10. Adaptations.... • For a small church • For a church without a Sunday School • For a church with mostly toddlers • For a church with mostly teenagers • For a church without children

  11. WHAT IS REQUIRED? • Community with children • Clergy commitment • Congregational commitment • Persistent practice

  12. THE GOAL Why are we doing this? What are we trying to accomplish?

  13. THE GOAL • To improve our spiritual practice of invitation • To create an environment in which others can encounter the Risen Christ and be transformed by him Why are we doing this? What are we trying to accomplish?

  14. THE PROCESS How can we do this?

  15. THE PROCESS • Form TEAMS • Build relationships • Plan/host events • Invite people • Invite them back! • Incorporate How can we do this?

  16. SUGGESTED TEAMS • Invitations Team (recruits, trains and encourages inviters, coordinates and tracks invitations) • Communications Team(does publicity—might already exist) • Hospitality Team(handles food and welcoming/greeting) • Logistics Team (gathers supplies needed by event leaders) • Event Team(s) (often one for each season) • Prayer Team (prays for everyone!) • Incorporation Team (makes sure anyone who starts attending is given the help they need to become part of the congregation)

  17. PRINCIPLES OF INVITATION • We’re inviting families to church so all of us can deepen our relationship with God and each other in Christ. • We earnestly seek God’s guidance and blessing—we ask God to invite the family through us.

  18. PRINCIPLES OF INVITATION • We earn the right to invite • Build a relationship with people: • Engage in conversation • Offer to help • Invite their children to play at your house • Invite them to share a meal with your family • Invite them to join you for something fun • Host a party with a church family with same-aged children • Ask a child near your child’s age to join you for any social event

  19. PRINCIPLES OF INVITATION • We invite people we know. • We recognize that the invitation will be accepted when it is the right time for that family. • We maintain and seek to deepen the relationship, continuing to pray for that family and thanking God for them and for his presence in their lives.

  20. OPEN DOORSincludes: • OVERVIEW MANUAL • INVITATION TEAM MANUAL • EVENTS TEAM MANUAL with LOGISTICS • HOSPITALITY TEAM MANUAL with RECIPE BOOK • INCORPORATION TEAM MANUAL • CLERGY GUIDE MANUAL • PRAYER TEAM MANUAL • COMMUNICATIONS TEAM • TEMPLATES of nametags, certificates, etc.

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