Active invitation - Rector's Rambling for December 22, 2013

So close, so very close.  Tuesday we begin the grand celebration of the Feast of the Nativity, on the Eve as well as the Day following.  Be sure to check the schedule of services so you know when you will be here!

As you begin your last few days of Advent, a discipline I would encourage is for you to invite five families to the Christmas Eve service at St. John’s.  Think about who you know you would like to see come to Church at St. John’s: family, friends, neighbors, co-workers.  Those five (or more) are the ones you need to actively invite to Church this Christmas Eve.

What do I mean by actively invite?  Approach them, or call them, and say, “Hey, ______, I was just thinking of you and was wondering where are you going to attend a Christmas Eve service this year?”  If there is any hesitation of an answer, begin again, “We go to a great church downtown called St. John’s.  We love it there and go there because ___________ (fill in your reasons) and there is no place that has a more beautiful Christmas Eve service.  I would love to have you (and your family) come down to the 8:30/9:00 PM service” (or to see the Pageant at 4:00 PM if you are going then).  Offer them a ride if you have room, or have them follow you down in their own car.

There are many un-churched or nominally-churched people who look to attend a Christmas Eve service.  Take advantage of that desire and invite them to St. John’s.  There are a few “regulars” around here whose first experience of St. John’s was a Christmas Eve service.  You may be the person God is using to bring them into a deeper relationship with himself through St. John’s Church.

Some will say no, others will hesitate.  But pray for them and keep cheerfully offering and asking them to join us, even after Christmas.  God may be working on them through you.

If you will be traveling for Christmas, have a safe trip, and we look forward to seeing the church bulletin from where you worshipped.  We enjoy seeing what others are doing.