Making your Advent Invitation Acceptable

by Reba Collins

Are you seeing the same thing I do everywhere you go now that Advent has begun? You know, it’s the ubiquitous default invitation…

“Join us for Advent.”

Churches send it out via banners, roadside signs, and newspaper ads as if all of those outsiders automatically know what kind of party they’ve been invited to attend. And then the church waits and wonders. The church waits with anticipation for all those people caught up in the holiday hustle to accept its invitation. And, ultimately, they wonder why so few do accept.

Frankly, most outsiders don’t accept, and they won’t because our invitations are given in a language many people don’t understand, from a tradition that isn’t part of theirs.

It’s like being invited to MIladun Perabi. Huh? To unchurched people, speaking “Advent” is a foreign language. Non-churchgoers think – What? What’s that? What’s that got to do with me? Why would it be important to me?  It’s the timeless principle of “they don’t know, so they won’t go.”

Of course churches should joyfully invite people to their “Advent activities,” and encourage their members to invite friends, too. But we can’t forget that the people we want to join us – people who don’t normally attend church – have no idea what “Advent” means or why it’s meaningful to them.  An invitation to Advent, then, becomes more intimidating than inviting.

As we move through this season, let’s not forget that Advent may not be familiar, comfortable, or inviting to someone who’s looking at what you’re doing from the outside in. It’s a family tradition that we’ve got to work extra hard at explaining to our invited guests if we want them to feel comfortable accepting our invitations. 

People outside your church family will have some basic questions about your invitation to Advent. They’ll want to know: What is Advent? Who can participate? What’s expected of me? Why do you celebrate this way?  What can I expect from this experience?

Every communication, then, must include language that speaks to the uninformed invitee. You never know how and where they will learn about you, so cover all of your bases. Answer their questions in all of the following ways:

•  On your website and social media pages
•  In your personal conversations
•  At the beginning of your worship time
•  As volunteers light the Advent wreath 
•  In your bulletins, newsletters, and notices

Because Advent is part of such a bigger story, tell that story as completely as you can, so your invitation has context and meaning to those receiving it.

Each and every Sunday of Advent is an opportunity to prepare your church family to invite others. What can your church family do to welcome guests and build a sense of anticipation in them for the next family celebration, Christmas? In this season of joyful anticipation, anticipate the questions and concerns of those you’re inviting to your Advent celebration.  Help them to anticipate not only the birth of Christ, but all of the other celebrations of our Christian family.

______________________________________________________________________________

* Pet Peeve – Please don’t make Advent candle lighters stand up front and read a dry script from a piece of paper someone else prepared. Spend time coaching them on the content and meaning of what they are doing and then let them use their own words. This communicates more than anything else that they both understand and believe the meaning of Advent.