Monthly Minute with Pastor Andrew

Hello to all the Monthly Minute readers of West Hempfield Presbyterian Church!

I was recently talking with some folks at church about inviting new people to worship and we agreed it feels harder than it used to.

Still, one thing hasn't changed: when asked why they attend a church, the most common answer is that someone invited them. And when they came, they felt welcomed.

We hear similar stories at WHPC. Members who joined in the '60s and '70s often say, “Rev. Ibach knocked on our door and invited us.”

In the '80s and '90s: “We lived nearby, stopped in one Sunday, and saw someone we knew,” or “Someone sat with us and was so kind and they became a friend."

In more recent years: “We brought our kids, or grandkids, to an event. Everyone was so warm, we decided to try a Sunday morning.”

The details change over time. These days, you can’t knock on a stranger’s door without risking being reported to the police as a trespasser (or worse), and people don’t just wander into a nearby church like they once did. Many no longer feel tied to “local;” they are willing to travel further and prioritize other things. Also, especially post-COVID, Sunday habits have shifted. Some watch online. Others are simply out of the habit of worship on Sunday mornings. And after years of declining church attendance, many didn’t grow up going to church and just aren’t sure where to begin.

That’s why digital tools have become so important. Livestreams and videos allow people to join from wherever they are. Social media, an up-to-date website, emails, and texts help people stay connected beyond Sunday mornings. For many, online has become the new “front door.”

But even in our ever increasingly online world, nothing replaces a personal touch. A kind word. A friendly face. A simple invitation.

So invite someone. Invite a friend. Make a new one and invite them too. Volunteer at an event. Smile and say hello. Be the connection someone else is looking for. Be the friendly person someone else will tell stories about years from now.

Events are still one of the best ways to welcome new people: VBS, the Car Cruise, Spaghetti Dinners, Back-to-School Blessings.

If you know someone heading back to school this fall, why not invite them to worship with us on Sunday, August 17!

Blessings,   Rev. Andrew Wirt