Welcoming - Open House

open house, college grove, welcoming, local church, seekers

OPEN HOUSE (ó'pen hous) having no confining barriers; to make available for entry; hospitality for all comers.

Each September, United Methodist Commnications works with each bishop to encourage congregations to celebrate United Methodist Open House Month.This special time coordinates with the national back-to-school advetising messages.

Make it a year-round state of mind. Hosting special events, worship festivals or making other efforts to welcome those in your community present perfect opportunities to intentionally recognize Christ in everyone -- and to remember that guests may look for Christ in us. your welcoming outreach may start with an Open House in September during "United Methodist Open House Month" then carry into the holidays as hay rides with hot cider, appear during winter as a chili night, celebrate spring with an Easter egg hunt, then welcome all to a mid-summer barbeque. These are all ways to help seekers rethink church and what it can mean in their lives.

Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.
The people of The United Methodist Church®

GETTING READY FOR COMPANY

Don't forget the personal touches for your event:

issue personal invitations for your Open House Month, using invitational postcards and note cards;
convey your congregation's welcoming spirit with customizable door hangers;
greet newcomers at their first point of entry with welcome mats;
tell your story with indoor banners and bulletin covers; or
wrap your thoughts for the day in coffee mugs.
spruce up for company (Walk-Thru Assessment | Mystery Guest Audit)
creative event ideas

CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Be a good neighbor: Participate in National Neighborhood Day, this September and make it a day of simple gatherings of neighbors to re-kindle friendships; welcome new neighbors; catch up with each other; and share food, fellowship and fun. For more information and ideas about how your church could get involved, visit www.NeighborhoodDay.org

15 Event Ideas (remember to involve your youth group)

House warmers - Extend welcoming beyond ushers and greeters. Station "house warmers" -- people who meet the others in the aisles and pews as they prepare for worship. They offer conversation and introductions to help everyone feel at home in the worship area.
Community Worship Services - Plan special worship services during the month to reach out to others in the community. Consider structuring services around issues and themes that are important to your community. Announce the events with door hangers, invitations and perhaps even personal letters to the community.
Diversity - If your congregation is ethnically diverse, celebrate that gift! Invite members to dress in native attire, to pray in their own languages, to introduce songs or hymns from their native countries, or to educate the congregation about their homelands' religious traditions.
Eight Out of Four - For small-group activity, have your welcoming team organize nights out for groups of eight people, including at least two newcomers. Designate hosts to choose the first activity (dinner, sporting event, concert). Invite sign-ups and ensure that newcomers are included. Each group goes out four times; rotate hosting duties and activity choice among members.
Saturday Night Live - Stage a comedy dinner show, using church talent. Include a tour of the facilities and make sure each newcomer is introduced to at least five other people.
Greet and Meet - Plan social opportunities (for example, a "Church Cafe" between Sunday School and worship with refreshments and a host/hostess to introduce newcomers to members). Offer tours of the facilities and allow teachers to give a quick description of classes and study material.
Serve the Servants - Invite and recognize volunteers from the community civil servants (police officers, hospital workers, firefighters, etc.) and their families. Alert your newspaper of your recognition of these special people.
Education Sunday - Honor public- and private-school teachers, administrators, bus drivers and other school employees, along with your church's daycare staff and teachers, and their families during a worship service.
Carnival/Craft Fairs - Include church information and an informed greeter during fall fairs, carnivals and garage sales to which the community is invited. Promote your church's outreach activities, introduce new ones and provide newcomers with opportunities to get involved.
Community Events - Host community events such as charity runs, parade floats or festival booth.
Parents' Night Out - Ask the youth to host (with adult supervision) child-care evenings at the church.
Sporting Events - Consider volleyball and golf tournaments or churchwide bowling night and invite friends to join a team. Serve refreshments at the church.
Support Groups - Attract both members and non-members by hosting a support group led by professionals donating their services. Consider including a social hour.
Artisan Day - Display the works of artists (woodworkers, sculptors, craftspersons) in the foyer/vestibule or invite the public to view members' collections of dolls, quilts, written works, trains, etc., and meet the congregation. Provide information about the church and tour of the facilities.
Welcoming Weekends - Invite guests and/or newcomers to a Friday-night free dinner, contemporary musical concern and introductions (don't forget name badges). Begin Saturday with breakfast and a mini-Bible study and conduct theme-specific discussion groups, special children's sessions, a picnic lunch with a storyteller; arrange for a devotional and special music. Have members agree to pick up guests and bring them to Sunday's worship service and introduce them during the service.

September is officially United Methodist Open House Month. Having an Open House is a visible way for congregations to open doors, and show that church is not just a place to go, but something we do. As you prepare to welcome your neighbors, you may use the Open House Declaration as a tool to begin planning how you will open your doors to your community.

Download a copy of the Declaration.

Declaration

WHEREAS, Open House Month is an opportunity for United Methodist congregations to Rethink Church and engage in radical hospitality to welcome their neighbors into Christian community.

AND WHEREAS, Christ’s greatest commandment calls us to connect with people in our communities and around the world. Open House Month is a visible way for congregations to open doors, and show that church is not just a place to go, but something we do. Church is a verb.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that September be celebrated as “Open House Month” and your congregation be encouraged to:

utilize Rethink Church resources by visiting www.rethinkchurch.org;
offer personal invitations to friends, co-workers and neighbors in your faith community
prepare the congregation for “Open House Month” by providing or participating in welcoming training using “Igniting Ministry” materials available from United Methodist Communications, Cokesbury, and the United Methodist Resource Center;
participate in National Neighborhood Day on September 20, 2009. For more information visit www.neighborhoodday.org;
pray for our church, that through the messages broadcast and the welcoming demonstrated, people without a spiritual home will become Christian disciples.

Together we can Open hearts, Open minds and Open doors.

Door Hangers