December 18, 2024 (final for 2024)

Invitation takes many forms. A minister closes each sermon with an intentional invitation, such as next week our focus will be on …. Over this week, consider who might find our topic helpful and invite them to accompany you in joining us at next week’s service.” Within the spoken announcements, the script offers intentional invitations to find ways to inspire the congregation to pray and ponder who God might be putting on their heart to invite to come take part. We need practice inviting. Develop intentional inviting as part of our own growth mindset and faithful expression. Have take -away notes prepared ahead of time and ready for people to Invite to join in an event. When we are anticipating, intentional and ready for inviting, it is like we are intentionally preparing the soil and ready with our seeds of invitation. How can you be ready with invitations and follow through to bring even more people to your Christmas Eve services. Are you ready also with the next event that follows for your community of faith? Do you have special events/activities in January. Give people information to get them to come and then to have interest and purpose to come back! Stay open, and don’t overthink with those little voices that can say “they would never want to come. They are probably busy, and all the other ways we might dismiss possibilities of who to invite. Check out the video on welcoming and invitation to Christmas Eve, in three different outcomes, from growth animators Scott and Tori. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlhsGiDELHk
Celebrate the season with strengthening invitations and planting seeds for growth! Merry Christmas. Blessings to you. I look forward to connecting with you in 2025. Reach out and connect with me as part of your New Year “to do list.” What will your invitational plan be? 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.