Embracing Easter Guests

In all the excitement of Easter it’s easy to overlook the opportunity to welcome guests who are visiting for this special season. Take a stroll this week through your front entrance and look at the space through the eyes of a visitor. Are there clear signs marking where the nursery and restrooms are located? Will there be greeters to offer assistance and explain the worship outline? Take a moment to remove unnecessary clutter, add signs, or recruit a few more helpers (especially children) to lead the way to the nursery or Sunday school rooms for new families. 

If your Sunday school class will be meeting on Easter help the kids greet newcomers! Plan a name game to play at the beginning of your session and arrange the lesson to allow lots of time for interacting together as a group. Make a special point of meeting the parents of guests when they come to drop off and pick up children. If possible stick with them for coffee time, introducing them to others from your church.

If your church, like mine, offers an Easter brunch or coffee, keep in mind how awkward those can be for guests and infrequent attendees. Keep an eye on the outskirts so that you can draw others into conversation. Encourage the kids in your class to make a new friend! If there’s a special tradition that newcomers might not know about, like decorating the communion table with flowers, bring an extra to pass along to someone else who could join in the processional. Easter is a day for all of us to celebrate and feel included in the awesome triumph of the Risen Savior! 

What does your church do to help make Easter special for visiting kids, teens, families, and adults?