“Join Us for Worship!” (Really?)

When you drive by a church and see their “Join us for Worship” sign, do you think they mean it? Well, I do. See, I believe if a group puts outs an invitation, we should expect them to be prepared for those they’ve invited – you and me. And so should you.

When a church invites you in but doesn’t really expect you to show up, it will be immediately apparent. They’re either prepared for you, or they’re not. You can rely on basic party planning principles here. These principles are the foundation for helping people feel included in a new group or situation. Any time we host a friend’s celebration, our kids’ birthday parties, or a colleague’s milestone achievement, we use these principles to make guests feel welcomed, accepted, and comfortable. Whether a church recognizes it or not, every worship experience hosts a new group attending a new party – and all guests should feel expected.

One of my jobs through The Church Guide ministry is to check out a church’s invitation to visitors – to see if it’s genuine.  The good news is that my job takes me into many churches who really, truly want you to join them for their worship party, and I see them using these principles when their invitation is real:

1.       Invitation includes when, where, what time, and what’s going on. All this obviously can’t fit on a yard banner invitation. But it should be on the group’s Website homepage.

2.       The right house is clearly marked. Party throwers know outside signs, balloons, or a person tells guests they’ve arrived at the right location. Depending on the church’s size, you might not be met in the driveway. But some friendly “Visitor” parking signs let you know they’re expecting guests.   

3.       You’re greeted at the front door. Have you ever invited someone you didn’t know to a party and expected them to just walk in your house? Probably not. Culturally, we are trained to knock and wait until the door is opened. This is a simple sign of acceptance. You don’t have to knock at the church’s front door – don’t go in if you do – but you shouldn’t have to push through two double, air-locked doors before someone says “Good Morning,” either. If the door isn’t opened for you, then you’re not expected. 

4.       You’re told what’s going on before you have to ask. Making guests feel welcome includes answering questions before they’re asked. Let me take your coat. Drinks are in the basement. We’ll eat at 6:00 pm. The bathroom is down the hall on the right. Likewise, churches let guests know what to do with themselves as soon as they walk in. Here’s where you can get a cup of coffee. We have coat racks over there. Worship is through those doors. The children’s area is down the hall on the right. Answers should come from directional signs and friendly people.

5.       The host is available for questions. A church should have a Visitor/Welcome/Information desk readily available and visible from the main entrance. No excuses.

6.       The host welcomes guests and introduces themselves. If you’re invited to a party, being ignored is the ultimate rude offense. You should be acknowledged and welcomed as a guest by whoever (pastor, worship leader, liturgist, etc) leads worship. Not only that, but you should know the names of the people leading you in worship. They invited you, so you should expect them to establish the first connection and introduce themselves.

I really, truly want every group to be serious about its invitation, because they’re asking you and me in for more than just a visit. For a church, an invitation isn’t to just, “Come meet the neighbors.” Rather, it’s to, “Come meet your new family.” When we accept their invitation, we expect to find people who accept us as one of their own – as another one of God’s children. By accepting their invitation, we hope to meet God through their faith community. And we will if they’ve planned accordingly.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that some churches do expect visitors to show up. These churches not only extend the invitation, but they make the necessary preparations to host guests. All it takes is some basic party planning for you to feel welcomed. And that’s not too much to expect when you’re invited.