Every community of faith believes it is welcoming, but we rarely see our spaces through the eyes of a stranger. To strengthen your invitation and connect with new neighbors, challenge your leadership team to step outside and conduct a physical and digital audit. Begin by walking the perimeter of your property: Is it clear where a newcomer should enter, or do locked doors say “keep out”? Next, audit your digital front door by asking a friend who has never visited your church to find your current service times, street address, and accessibility details on your website within three clicks. Finally, look at your community bulletin boards and social media feeds to see if they showcase internal committee meetings or vibrant public invitations. Do they mostly provide reminders and details for insiders? Or do they spark curiosity and possibilities for outsiders, reflecting relationships, engagement, activity, people being with people? Do they speak of belonging, invitation, curiosity and a desire to get to know people from outside the church? Is the whole congregation intentionally turning outwards, to talk about faith, actively sharing with others about interests and opportunities? By intentionally shifting your perspective from the inside out, you can eliminate hidden barriers, turn casual passersby into welcome guests, and actively draw your circle wider.
Contact your growth and stewardship animators in UCC-East Sharon Ballantyne sballantyne@united-church.ca and Rob Shearer rshearer@united-church.ca
This week’s Stewardship second: Sharing ourselves, as members of the body of Christ, is an act of generosity.
Thank you to all who have participated in the virtual drop in each Wednesday with Sharon, over the past year. This gathering time in this form is now completed. Reach out if you have questions or ideas for connecting in the fall of 2026 and beyond. Let’s keep connected.
