The simple act of preparing to welcome visitors can give new life to a meeting.
Many meetings have a regular stream of visitors walking through their doors on Sunday mornings, but wonder why visitors don’t stick around and become part of the meeting community. A key component of meeting growth is being intentional about responding to the needs of newcomers with grace and welcoming, guiding them through the process of practicing the Quaker way, and offering opportunities for building meaningful connections within the meeting.
Welcoming meetings are those that invite newcomers to learn about the Quaker way, Quaker processes, and Quaker worship, AND to build connections and relationships with Friends in the meeting. Inreach activities or renewal opportunities that allow everyone in the meeting to explore their spirituality and the Quaker way together can meet the needs of newcomers and be a gift to the entire community. After all, we’re all on a spiritual journey!
Sample Agenda: A 3-hour Session on Welcoming and Integrating Newcomers
| Centering Worship | 15 minutes |
| Spiritual Hospitality for Newcomers | 60-75 minutes |
| Newcomer Timeline Activity | 45-60 minutes |
| Double Circles: Breaking the Quaker Code | 30 minutes |
Helpful Resources
Files & Toolkits
*The starred files below include facilitation guides for activities you can implement TODAY in your meeting.