December 4, 2024

What are your community of faith’s super powers? What makes you uniquely you and how are you letting that shine? Dare to share the advent-ure! How do others in your neighbourhoods and wider community know you are there? How do they know you are welcoming if you don’t invite them? Advent and Christmas season is a great opportunity for others to come celebrate the seasonal festivities you are doing! Celebrate when you speak directly to someone and invite them. Take the risk and figure out what are the ways you and every person in your community of faith can strengthen invitation? Too shy to invite someone on your own, enlist a friend from your church to join you to invite others. Have those postcards, information cards, or greeting cards with your special events ready to share. Impact those you connect with through daily appointments, errands, activity groups, community engagement and challenge yourself to invite those you connect with. Be creative with your outreach – crossing guard, building security, receptionist, care providers, hair stylist, grocer, retail associate, cashiers, newspaper carrier, neighbours on your street. Ask in person. Ask by phone. Ask with a personal note or email. The personal touch matters! You may be feeling hesitant to invite, but the neighbourhood is hesitant to come! Be the next right step of sharing the opportunity. According to your comfort, sweeten the deal with offer to follow-up with a time of chat and refreshments following. Be environmental and car pool. Get others to share in your excitement for chances to eat, sing, pray, create, learn, together. Think of ways your community of faith might help others. Bake cookies in the church kitchen, not messing up your own and creating community building. Set up a wrapping station at your church. Knowing people can be lonely and feeling these challenges of shortening days and set up a phone check-in or holiday visit. Go caroling in your neighbourhood. Offer a simple supper outreach to build community. As bold disciples it is up to us to invite! Invite! Invite! You can reach me by email at sballantyne@united-church.ca or by phone 705 875-8837. Let’s grow together with deep spirituality, bold discipleship and daring justice.