Gracious Invitations

“We spent all this time and energy to plan an event for the community and yet, people in the community don’t come.”  This is a recurring comment from church groups that are struggling to reach the neighborhood community.  With all good intentions to be missional, many churches are puzzled by the low attendances of their event.  As a result, many of these missional events were only attended by church members.  

Writing a Gracious Invitation is a key part of the Holy Currencies training.  It takes into account the potential “fears” that the neighbors have when receiving an invitation to a church event.  The Gracious Invitation process helps the planners to find the language that will lessen the fear while being truthful to what the event is about.  The process is as follows: 

1. Name the fears that potential participants might have if they are to attend the event.  Formulate sentences in the form of “we will not . . . “ to address these fears. 
2. Name the goals, purposes and processes for this event that will uphold the wellbeing of the participants while challenging them to explore new ideas.  Formulate sentences in the form of “we will . . .” 
3. Write an invitation using the following formula incorporating the sentences created in the last two steps.
4. End the invitation with an evocation of an image or idea of the divine that upholds the purpose of this event.

Here are some real examples of Gracious Invitations that had gotten very good results in getting folks to come.  Read them and learn from them, and then experiment with how you would create a gracious invitation for your church’s next event.

You are invited to OPENING DOORS
Sunday 9:30 to 10:30
Brunch provided in Parke Hall
We will
Learn about the Spanish Yoga Class
Explore possibilities to be better hosts and facilitate class meetings
Take time to get to know more about the people
We will not
Require a long-term commitment
Make you learn Spanish in one night
Entice you to participate in the class
“Whatever you did for the least of these you did for me”

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You are invited to a gathering to help prepare for Sally’s funeral on Tuesday 3/29 from 5:15 to 5:45
At this gathering we will talk about serving the larger Community who will be attending Sally’s service
Specifically, we will talk about communion, nametags, visitor crosses and welcoming so many people to our church.
We will talk about this as a ministry.
We will not expect you to make a commitment to this ministry after only one meeting.
This will not take more than 30 minutes of your time
We know that we are part of the Body of Christ – and that this is an opportunity for you to hare the knowledge with others who really need to hear and know that God is with them, even in the most difficult times.

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Ice Cream Sunday Planning Invitation
You are invited to our 1^st Annual Ice Cream SunDAY!
On Sunday, May 20 from 11:30 to 12:30
We will enjoy ice cream sundaes and share our vision for this summer’s programs (formerly VBS)
Peace –Making with Jesus and Dr. Suess
We welcome ideas on how to invite the community
Ideas do not equal Volunteering
Please join us in the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace

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You are invited
To a “Friendly Community” all-ages BBQ
To Kick off the Fall Season
At Humber Valley United Church
On Sept. 14, 2014, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.
BBQ and activities both inside “Steed Hall” and outside on the lawn.

At this BBQ we will share our hospitality, our appreciation and our friendship as we enter into a new year together as partners and neighbours in Humber Valley Village and environs.  We will share lunch, enjoy some old-fashioned games and tell stories about our lives and times in Humber Valley.   HVUC will not recruit new members nor indoctrinate in any way, but we will provide ample opportunity for getting to know each other better. We hope to enhance our relationship around this building and within this wonderful community.

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You and five or six members of your church are invited to attend a Conversation Among Churches on Wed. Jan. 15 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Hearth Room of United Church. 

Over tea, coffee and dessert we will share our stories, discuss our strengths, our gifts and our struggles. 

Together we will imagine new possibilities and honor one another as equal players. 

We will neither judge nor dwell on negativity. 

We will respect the time that you offer to this meeting and will explore together where the Spirit may be leading us in our shared ministry in our community.

We ask that you come to this meeting prepared to share, in any format (power point, charts, photos, video) the story of your church.  The telling of your story should not exceed 10 minutes. 

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Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: March 19-24, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 21-25, 2015 Sewanee, TN Gracious Leadership Training Missional Ministries in the Grace Margin (Register with Sewanee School of Theology, Beecken Center) July 20-25, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training August 6-11, 2015 Seattle, WA Gracious Leadership Training Intercultural Competency KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training November 1-5, 2015 Memphis, TN Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for 4th Sunday in Lent (Year B) Numbers 21:4-9    What does this story teach you about healing? Psalm 107:1-2, 17-22    How did you learn from this psalm about God’s personality? Ephesians 2:1-10   How have you experienced grace as described in this text? John 3:14-21   What is the relationship between belief and being able to see?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org