Weekly Objectives After Liturgy
After the shock of a longer than usual service and marathon standing, it is tempting for visitors to try to sneak out the back door at the end of liturgy. The greeter should be at the back to 'catch' them, speak with them and and invite them to the fellowship time. If they are leaving, ask them for the completed card. and urge them to fill it in at that point if they haven't.
If the visitors do not bolt out of the pew when the antidoron is beginning to be distributed, the greeter may walk up to the vistiors, quietly ask them how they liked the service and walk up with them to the front, mentioning their names to the priest. When this is completed, offer to show them to the fellowship area. This is the time to get the completed card. Whenever the card is collected, don't ask for the pen if they forget to give it to you...that creates an unnecessarily negative impression.
Fellowship Hour
It is good for the greeter to walk with the visitors to the fellowship area and ask them if they have any questions about the liturgy or what they saw. Introduce them to some members of the parish (who will like to talk)...don't 'hover' over them the entire time. If you see them awkwardly standing alone, take another congregation member to them for introduction and more conversation. At some point make sure they are introduced again to the priest before they leave.
An option would be for a picture to be taken of them before they leave for the 'Visitor Board', explaining that this will help other members of the congregation put a name with a face when they visit again in the future (point out the Vistior Board to them...make sure you really have one!).
Follow Up
The information card can be used contact the visitors later in the week...not before Thursday. Be sure to address the welcome packs on Sunday and mail them on Monday. An email can also be sent with the church website link included (but, do not add them to an email list!). Print the picture and post if on the 'Visitor Board' before next Sunday. A personal visit or telephone call again thanks them for coming, asks if they received the welcome pack that was sent out and if they have any questions. Either a call or personal visit should be brief. For personal visits, some churches will bake a special bread or dessert to be delivered to the visitors.
This is the extent of normal follow up. If the visitors do not return for the next couple of Sundays a 'missing you' card might be sent out but don't give the impression of harassing them...let the Lord do His part to bring them to His house.
After the shock of a longer than usual service and marathon standing, it is tempting for visitors to try to sneak out the back door at the end of liturgy. The greeter should be at the back to 'catch' them, speak with them and and invite them to the fellowship time. If they are leaving, ask them for the completed card. and urge them to fill it in at that point if they haven't.
If the visitors do not bolt out of the pew when the antidoron is beginning to be distributed, the greeter may walk up to the vistiors, quietly ask them how they liked the service and walk up with them to the front, mentioning their names to the priest. When this is completed, offer to show them to the fellowship area. This is the time to get the completed card. Whenever the card is collected, don't ask for the pen if they forget to give it to you...that creates an unnecessarily negative impression.
Fellowship Hour
It is good for the greeter to walk with the visitors to the fellowship area and ask them if they have any questions about the liturgy or what they saw. Introduce them to some members of the parish (who will like to talk)...don't 'hover' over them the entire time. If you see them awkwardly standing alone, take another congregation member to them for introduction and more conversation. At some point make sure they are introduced again to the priest before they leave.
An option would be for a picture to be taken of them before they leave for the 'Visitor Board', explaining that this will help other members of the congregation put a name with a face when they visit again in the future (point out the Vistior Board to them...make sure you really have one!).
Follow Up
The information card can be used contact the visitors later in the week...not before Thursday. Be sure to address the welcome packs on Sunday and mail them on Monday. An email can also be sent with the church website link included (but, do not add them to an email list!). Print the picture and post if on the 'Visitor Board' before next Sunday. A personal visit or telephone call again thanks them for coming, asks if they received the welcome pack that was sent out and if they have any questions. Either a call or personal visit should be brief. For personal visits, some churches will bake a special bread or dessert to be delivered to the visitors.
This is the extent of normal follow up. If the visitors do not return for the next couple of Sundays a 'missing you' card might be sent out but don't give the impression of harassing them...let the Lord do His part to bring them to His house.
