Hospitality and The importance of community building Margo
Hospitality and The importance of community building Margo Truett Pastoral Assistant St. Anne Church, Columbus, GA
Agenda 1 2 3 DEFINE! Importance of Hospitality and Community Building Present concrete ideas Share your ideas!
Stewardship One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them with justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord. Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response A Pastoral Letter on Stewardship USCCB. org
Stewardship It is not about… giving because the Church has needs getting people to fill our ministries fulfilling some obligation to avoid guilt keeping up with our neighbors
Stewardship It is about… understanding everything is a Gift from God knowing that God has given us these gifts for which to care being aware that He expects us to generously share these gifts out of gratitude!
Stewardship 1 It’s all God’s anyway! God has a plan for YOU! You gotta SHARE! It’s all God’s anyway!
St. Anne Catholic Church • • • Began in 1961 Located in Columbus, GA Over 1900 households 990 families with children Pre-K - 12 school
Our History of Stewardship began 1986 First Stewardship Council established in 1990 Stewardship process Treasure renewal in November Time & Talent in Spring Ongoing processes throughout the year
Community Hospitality Engagement Welcome/ Hospitality Building Community Stewardship is the vehicle for all this!
Hospitality the first step to Building Community Welcome/ Hospitality
Hospitality The quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way. Dictionary. com
Hospitality is not an option. One of the pillars of stewardship We are called to follow the way of Christ The CHURCH’S Primary Mission: The great commission: Matthew 28: 19 -20
What elements of hospitality exist in your parish today?
Ideas for Hospitality Take a look at your parish Adequate signage Parking attendants “Church Caddies” Kiosk in vestibule/narthex
Ideas for Hospitality Be welcoming Greeters Welcome Ministry Welcome desk Visitors’ book Contact everyone within one week of first visit
Ideas for Hospitality Welcome letter and stewardship materials sent out immediately Parish Council call to welcome New parishioners’ receptions Welcome new parishioners in bulletin monthly Postcards inviting new parishioners to Ministry Fair
Engagement the second step to Building Community Engagement
Engagement To attract and hold fast To become involved To bind, as by pledge Dictionary. com
Believing does not necessarily lead to belonging, but belonging can lead to believing! Growing an Engaged Church By Albert Winseman
What elements are in your parish today to help get people engaged?
Engagement Everyone in parish invited Meaningful to individual Ongoing, ever-learning, never-ending process We, as Church, are called to be facilitators
Engagement Everyone must be invited! Know your parish community Parish database Update it frequently Frequently review and communicate parish statistics
Engagement Everyone must be invited! Organize a Stewardship Development Group Pastor, parish staff representative, and parish lay members Have representation of ALL of your parish Clear roles and expectations Need rotation of members
Engagement Stewardship as an ongoing process Clearly define your mission and vision Define your parish stewardship process Realistic goals Organize a parish stewardship calendar Provide opportunities for people to get involved using their unique gifts
Engagement Stewardship as an ongoing process Communicate effectively Stewardship: A way of life! Current communication tools: bulletin, e-newsletter, website, emails, kiosk, facebook, twitter, bulletin boards Educate about stewardship everywhere! Report results and updates of your process
Engagement Stewardship as an ongoing process Develop and nurture your leaders Identify leaders in your parish Ask how they are currently being reached Provide opportunities for spiritual formation, ongoing stewardship education, and personal development Retreats Tap in to existing meetings and groups
Engagement Stewardship as an ongoing process Evaluate and continue the cycle! Learn from your experiences Keep on keeping on Keep it fresh!
Community Hospitality the third step to Building Community Hospitality
Community Hospitality 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. ‘ Matthew 25: 34 -36
What elements of community hospitality exist in your parish today?
Ideas for Community Hospitality Host community-building events! Encourage parishioners to speak to those around at Mass Introduce to new parishioners Encourage development of new ministries Posters around parish reminding others to be welcoming
Ideas for Community Hospitality Use all of your communication tools to educate about importance of hospitality Frequent homilies about importance of being a welcoming community Offer parish training sessions about hospitality
Ideas for Community Hospitality
There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in – that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Thank you and may God continue to bless you on your stewardship journey
Resources Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response USCCB. org Stewardship: Disciples Respond A Practical Guide for Pastoral Leaders Our Sunday Visitor (OSV. com) Company’s Coming by Richard J. Mc. Corry When They Come Home by Melanie Rigney and Anna M. Lanave Inviting Catholics Home by Sally L. Mews Beyond the First Visit by Gary L. Mc. Intosh VIDEO: What Visitors See! By Gary L. Mc. Intosh churchgrowthnetwork. com
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