You are doing a great job of ensuring that people understand that the ministry of the congregation belongs to them. It is so easy for a congregation to fall back to a reliance on the minister to do ministry.

 If you feel that transformation is a ministry you want to continue to do, please let us know. We are always being asked about where congregations can find good leadership and we don’t have any where near enough good leaders.  I mean it when I say we don’t have many leaders who have the openness and flexibility that you demonstrate. It has been a privilege to hear your story and walk with you for a while. Thank you and best wishes for your future and to St. Andrew's United Church.

The big challenge, after welcoming, is finding ways for new people to make connections in the congregation so they feel they belong. When the new families include both adults and children it is important that they all begin to feel that this is a place where they will be comfortable.

Many congregations have done a traditional Newcomer’s Lunch or some kind of get together where newcomers are invited to meet the clergy and other members of the congregation. Some people enjoy this kind of event, but many times people don’t really get an opportunity to connect or engage one another in a meaningful way.

One way that new people can have the opportunity to make real connections is by creating a small group or circle for new people. Remember, they have made the commitment to come, so they are often willing to make the time to meet new people. The best people for them to connect with are other new people because they have something in common.

You can choose whatever format you think will work in your congregation, but one suggestion is that when you find you have three or four new families start to attend, you invite them to come together once a week for three weeks. Depending on the situation, that might be after church on Sunday, over a meal during the week, or at some other time that fits their schedule. It will be important that you include all the members of each family, so be prepared with activities or programs for the children and teens as well as the adults.

The three topics could be: Sharing our Story, Living our Faith, and Stewardship of our Resources. Someone from the congregation should be the coordinator and facilitator of this ministry. Clergy should try to be present as often as possible, but they don’t have to lead the sessions. Remember, the idea is to hear from the newcomers as much as to share about the congregation, so you want to keep it interesting and interactive.

If you have an intentional small group ministry program, the centre, covenant, etc. should be part of the newcomers meetings.

As you move through the three sessions and get to know the newcomers and their needs, you can begin to think about ways to connect them with the larger congregation. If they want to explore their faith, suggest a bible study or faith questions small group. If they want to share a talent they have, you provide a structure for them to work in. If they are going through a transition you can connect them with a support group. The possibilities are endless. What you are doing is putting the focus on their needs and supporting them on their spiritual journey, not taking the traditional “We have a job for you” approach that we so often use in the church.