You are invited . . .

1st Annual Conference on How to Be Friendly at Church

Do you find yourself talking to the same people every week at church? Are there people on the other side of the fellowship hall that you see every week, but you don't know their names? Do you avoid making eye contact with strangers so you don't have to greet them? Do you often tell yourself that friendliness is not your spiritual gift, this is just how you are, and you can't be expected to greet people at church? Register for the first annual conference on how to be friendly at church, location to be determined, but probably not at your local conservative Reformed church. Join us in the following sessions:

1. You Are Your Brother's Keeper: In this session you will learn that you are responsible for other members of the church body, even if they are older/younger than you; their children attend a different school from yours (or are or are not homeschooled); their marital status is different from yours; they are not blood relatives; they did not attend high school and/or college with you; they have an ethnic background different from yours. Our speaker will remind you that, yes, you need to be friends with and show an interest in everybody in the church, not just the people you feel most comfortable with.

2. Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Our expert will say, "I hope not!" She will remind you that the circle needs to be broken to allow others in. She will cover topics like how to watch for people who are standing in a corner by themselves; how to welcome them into the circle and make them feel wanted there; how to choose conversation topics that will be of interest to people who weren't at the get-together at your house last night; and how to change that circle into an ellipse so you can actually get more people in.

3. Strangers in the Night (or in the Morning Service Too): Learn how to watch for visitors to your church and make sure that even if no one else greets them, you will. Participants will set goals to become the fastest, most determined, genuinely most concerned and compassionate member in reaching out to newcomers. You will learn skills like showing new parents where the nursery and bathrooms are, inviting guests who are alone to sit with you, and helping those who are unchurched with Bibles and Psalter Hymnals. 

4. Into the Woods: Attendees visiting this session must have a signed note from a physician indicating they are in good health. This rigorous two-hour experience will take you into uncharted territory, where you will learn how to talk to and fellowship with people with whom you have never spoken. In fact, during the session you will be placed in a situation where you must communicate with a person who has only the bonds of Christ in common with you. For example, if you are a young mom, you may be placed with an elderly widow. A teen who attends may be placed with an elderly man. A homeschooling parent may have to communicate with a parent whose child attends Christian school. If you are married, you'll be talking to a single. This session is not for the faint of heart, and we recommend that you complete session # 1 before attending this one.

5. Hospitality 101: Again, this session is for those eager for a challenge. Learn how to invite people other than your best friends and family into your home for dinner or dessert. Increase your sensitivity levels so that you learn to determine which members of the church could benefit from a meal, a greeting card, or an encouraging phone call. Learn how social interaction outside of church can build stronger ties in the church.

Please make your reservation as soon as possible, but because this topic is not of great interest to very many, we expect that there will be plenty of room. There is no charge for attending. Bring your best friend, your cousin, the person who was your friend in the last church you were a member of--you know, one of the four to five people you always talk to at church.