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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Open House?

Lutheran Church–Canada congregations across Canada can set aside and plan activities in a special effort to reach out to their communities in unique ways. The goal of an Open House is to invite members of your community to learn the basics of the Lutheran confession of the Christian faith and explore the church facilities. The open house could include a community-oriented event on a Saturday and a "Friendship" Sunday on the following Sunday. An Open House also provides an opportunity for publicity and media exposure for Lutheran Church–Canada and our Lutheran confession of the Christian faith.

What kind of events could we include?

Some congregations have had considerable success connecting with their community by holding a barbecue, fun fair or other event that would be attractive to those in your immediate area. Perhaps a concert or other evening event would be more appropriate. Take a look around your neighbourhood and see what kind of people live there. Families? New Canadians? And then ask what kind of event could your congregation hold that would be of interest to them.

What do we do when people come to the event?

Make them feel welcome. Make sure you have information about your church, activities and other points that may be of interest. Anything you publish should include the church name, address, phone number, website address and e-mail address.

You can offer guided tours of your church or let people wander around. LCC has published material with descriptive information for the basic structural and worship features in your church. This information can be placed on tent-cards explaining things like the altar, baptismal font, communion rail, lectern, pulpit, etc. Tour guides could also use this information.

What is a Friendship Sunday?

Congregation members are encouraged to invite friends to a special service that may include special music, a narrative service explaining the liturgy, a time of fellowship following the service or anything that will make a visitor feel at home. Surveys indicate that 90 percent of people who join a congregation do so because they were initially invited by a friend or family member.

How do we let people know about this open house?

LCC has prepared newspaper and radio ads that will tell the story. If there are other LCC churches within the distribution area of your newspaper or radio listening area, you can pool your resources to buy space for the advertising and add the information from each congregation or announce a common telephone number to call. LCC will also design templates for door-to-door campaigns such as flyers and door hangers.

A circuit could host a Parish Media Workshop which trains members to use various media for outreach, contact and proclamation. Co-sponsored by LCC and Lutheran Hour Ministries, the one-day seminar looks at radio, TV, print and digital communication as well as novel ways to bring attention to the Gospel and your congregation. Contact LCC Communications for more information.

LCC also operates an ongoing on-line outreach that allows people to explore their own beliefs in light of Scripture. The site, www.whatyoubelieve.ca, also provides contact information for LCC congregations across Canada.

What happens after the Open House?

You need to plan past the Open House. Attending an event or Friendship Service should not be the only contact a person has with your congregation. Following up with all visitors is very important. If you have a guest book for visitors, make sure it includes a space for an e-mail address so you can keep contact that way. You should identify a follow-up team to visit each family or person who attends. Each visitor can receive an invitation to forthcoming church events, such as a Thanksgiving service, Reformation service, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter etc. Constant contact is important.

How do we prepare for visitors?

How do you prepare when you have visitors coming to your home? You make sure the house is clean, tidy and in good repair, inside and out. This may be the year the church gets a fresh coat of paint, the front steps are repaired or the bathrooms upgraded.

Try to imagine yourself a visitor to your church. What happens when you first walk in? What do you see? Who is there? Are there signs to the washrooms and cry room? Will ushers help you find a seat? Does the pastor explain what will happen in the service and which books to use? Are there things everyone takes for granted that a visitor wouldn't know about (like standing for the reading of the Gospel or passing an attendance record along the pew during the offering). Do members greet one another including visitors?

You may also want to host or attend an evangelism workshop such as Equipping to Share sponsored by Lutheran Hour Ministries. These are available in all districts. A training session would help members learn comfortable ways to interact with visitors and to naturally share their faith. Contact your district mission executive for more information.

What help can we get?

lutheranchurch.ca/openhouse has a list of on-line resources that will help prepare your congregation. If you need advice or want to share some ideas, contact Ian Adnams.

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