UMs plan many ways to attract visitors

September declared
Open House Month
across Southwest Texas

By Claudia M. Williams
Staff Writer
From handing out flyers to lifting individuals in prayer, Southwest Texas United Methodists are planning many ways to celebrate Open House Month during September.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez has proclaimed September to be a time when United Methodists focus specifically on extending ministry outside their congregations to offer Christ to all.
Lakehills UMC is planning a number of special events during September. Members want to make sure people in the community know about them.
“Volunteers on the evangelism committee will be at major intersections handing out flyers inviting everyone who drives by to come to church,” said Diana Cluck, office administrator.
Pastor Susan Brown of First UMC, Bishop, said, “Sept. 11 is National Neighborhood Day, and we will be celebrating our neighbors.”
The day provides an opportunity to invite neighbors to worship and a potluck supper at the church, Brown said.
“Then, on Sept. 25, we’ll be honoring the civil servants of Bishop,” she said.
The 189-member Bishop congregation plans to send special invitations to various groups, such as postal workers and police officers, Brown said. The civil servants will be invited to worship and a meal to follow.
The two Southwest Texas Conference congregations in Laredo plan television advertisements to invite people to church.
When UM Church of the Savior, Laredo, closed two years ago, its members joined First UMC or El Macias UMC, said the Rev. Peter Aguilar, pastor of First UMC, Laredo.
“We’ve had some publicity in the newspaper” (because of the moving members), he said. “There’s a lot of energy going on, and we want to capitalize on it.”
The TV commercials are to address all residents of the area, both English- and Spanish-speaking, Aguilar said.
“I’ll say something like, ‘We know you have great options for worship,’” Aguilar said. “’However, if you don’t have or are looking for a house of worship, we invite you to come to First UMC.’
“Then the Rev. Juan Duarte (pastor of El Macias) would say a few words in Spanish.”
Day Memorial UMC, San Angelo, hopes Open House Month activities can help bridge a gap in community diversity so United Methodists can offer Christ to all.
“Our church is in an older neighborhood that is largely Hispanic,” said Pastor Barbara Dyke. “We want the neighbors around us to know that we want to be part of the community.
“Our church has the image of being a ‘family’ that’s close-knit, and we want to change that image. We want to show that we are inclusive and welcome everyone. We have open arms.”
The population in the Rio Grande Valley rises and falls with the seasons, and so does church attendance, noted Pastor Janna Sandidge of First UMC, Raymondville.
“In the winter when we have many winter Texans, attendance climbs to well over 100,” she said. “In the summer, it falls.”
The 163-member Raymondville congregation tries all summer long to bring people into the church, Sandidge said. In September, she added, “We’re going to pour on the fuel.”
That fuel includes:
> Inviting teachers in the community to a covered-dish dinner Sept. 11.
> Planning special community outreach by the CIA (Christians in Action). That United Methodist Youth Fellowship group goes into the community to help people with simple chores.
> Giving all visitors a cross-of-nails keychain made by a church member.
Two congregations—First UMC, Harlingen, and First UMC, Browns-ville—are planning to reprise activities that were successful last year.
Members of the Harlingen congregation are to receive a small package of business-card-size invitations to worship. Church members are to hand out these “touch cards” wherever there is an opportunity—such as in stores and restaurants.
“It’s too easy to let the focus on inviting people to come to church to fade into the woodwork,” said the Rev. Janne Clinton, associate pastor. “Open House Month is important because it helps remind people of what it is we’re supposed to be doing—offering Christ to all.”
First UMC, Brownsville, has designated Sept. 11 “FRAN Day.” Church members are asked specifically to bring their friends, relatives, associates and neighbors to church, said Ken McCleary, program director, but not before some preparation.
Each member of the congregation is asked to write the name of someone he or she would like to invite to church on a card, keep that card nearby and pray regularly for that person, McCleary said.
“Pray to develop a relationship so that you’ll be comfortable inviting that person to church,” McCleary said. “Surrounding this (effort) in prayer makes it less threatening to the person inviting and the person being invited.”
Whether or not those people come or join the church, McCleary said, church members are to continue praying for them so that “the seeds planted will develop and grow so they’ll find a church home, even if it’s not ours.”
“This is an opportunity to develop the church’s prayer life at the same time we are reaching out to offer Christ to all,” he said.