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You are here: Home / Archives for Welcoming

All Are Welcome… But Are All Invited?

November 3, 2016 by Jennifer English

In the delicate dance of social interactions, most of us intuitively know the subtle difference between being “welcomed” and being “invited.” Imagine that you show up at someone’s house for a dinner party, bottle of wine in hand. The host greets you at the door with a big smile and invitation to come inside. Everyone […]

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Survey: Is My Church Welcoming?

November 3, 2016 by Jonathan Malm

This survey was, in part, created and adapted from ideas presented in “Unwelcome: 50 Ways Churches Drive Away First-Time Visitors” by Jonathan Malm, and from conversations with Brian Zehr, Consultant with Intentional Impact. Download the Is My Church Welcoming? survey in PDF format.

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Hospitality as Welcoming Others, Welcoming Mystery

November 3, 2016 by Craig Mueller

Most of the so-called welcoming churches value diversity and are quick to announce their openness to people of different backgrounds, races, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, and socio-economic status. To that list my congregation intentionally adds an openness to those questioning and struggling with organized religion. The identities of individual worshippers are less fixed than […]

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Welcoming Transgender People in Congregations

November 3, 2016 by Michael Fick and Kelly Faulstich

“All are welcome” is a common sentiment expressed by congregations. Some display rainbow flags or signage as a sign of welcome to members of the LGBTQ community; or, the Reconciling in Christ cross may communicate welcome to Lutherans familiar with the symbol and the congregational process it represents. Asked to reflect on how we welcome […]

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As I See It: Everyone Is Welcome to Worship…Except Children

November 3, 2016 by Frank C. Senn

When I was growing up in the 1950s I had the impression that everyone in the congregation attended worship. Admittedly, my frame of reference is limited to what I knew my friends did in their churches or synagogues in urban Buffalo, NY. There were a few who went to Sunday School, but not worship. But […]

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On the Way: Aggressive Hospitality

November 20, 2014 by Benjamin Dueholm

How do we let people say “No”? In tandem with many churches, Lutheran and otherwise, my own parish has moved toward a wider, more explicit, and less qualified invitation to Holy Communion. This development has been more pragmatic than principled, at least as far as my own role is concerned. I am generally persuaded by […]

Filed Under: Communion and Community, Welcoming

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By Frank C. Senn

Farewell Sermon: Home Rejoicing

By Benjamin Dueholm

Self-Care: Being Present to God and to our Bodily Selves

By Frank C. Senn

Holy Living

By Richard O. Johnson

Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Season of Advent

By Maxwell E. Johnson