Below is a list of the ministry ideas genereated during our five-week initiative on Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. On March 8 during worship we will have the opportunity to commit to making one or more of these ministries a reality at Pomme de Terre United Methodist Church.
Radical Hospitality
Teens
Invite teen choirs to sing at church
Gather on an alternate day other than Sunday morning
Start an after-school program
Place basketball goals in parking lot (in a visible area)
Get and locate playground equipment in visible area
Make youth activities more apparent
MYF (Sunday night? Methodist Youth Fellowship)
Encourage church members to be accepting of appearance/behavior of teens in church
Single Parents
Greeters take parents and children to nursery/restroom/classroom when needed
Parking lot greeters to help people enter the building
Clearly mark visitor parking spots
Staff the nursery on Sunday morning
Children’s church/Sunday School at 10:30 a.m.
Diapers and baby wipes on hand in nursery
Rocking chairs in sanctuary for new mothers
Cry room for fussy babies
Host a vacation bible school
Host a parent’s night out
Advertise child care is available
Offer a classes for single parents and blended families
Handicapped/Special Needs
Modify at least one men’s and one women’s restroom so doors, stalls, sinks, and water fountains are handicapped accessible
Equip fire exits to be handicapped accessible
Hang more informative signs throughout the church
Parking lot attendants and door attendants to help people enter building
Install electronic automatic opening doors
Remove bumps from floors
Designate an area for wheelchairs in sanctuary
Make the choir and pulpit area more accessible with a ramp
General
Compile a list of commonalities to match people who worked in same industry or went to same school so people can connect with one another better.
Have a “head usher in charge” who knows the membership well enough so that guests can be connected with people who have something in common
Assign different members to walk around sanctuary and be greeters at doors on Sun.
Develop support group for those who have experienced the death of someone close
Develop neighborhood “shepherding” groups that keep in contact with one another
Each member can invite one person to attend church; pick them up, sit with them, maybe on a day when there is a potluck. Do this every six months.
Sign out front might read “Guest parking available.” or “Visitors expected.”
Standing and speaking to people around us is a great thing
Remember and respect that different people respond to different methods of invitation
Give each visitor a copy of our most recent newsletter so they know us better and a copy of the Upper Room so they know God better.
Passionate Worship
Use projectors in worship with song lyrics and sermon questions and answers
Consider moving the altar back to where choir is currently seated and move the choir to the side of the sanctuary
Unlock the chairs and spread them out to create more room between chairs
Take fellowship into the sanctuary, but it should stop at 10:30 when worship starts. Reduce chattering during the prelude.
Streamline communion (such as serving in the aisle).
Paint the sanctuary a warmer color
Place flowers on the altar
Have ushers stand inside the sanctuary to decrease congestion in the hallways.
Rearrange seating in sanctuary so that we can see people’s faces during worship.
Use fellowship hall for a more relaxed, contemporary worship (especially during the summer)
Cultivate a prayer garden and designate a prayer room
Consider more upbeat music or music performed by people who are not part of the congregation
Use a variety of music in worship such as organ music at the beginning of worship to help set the mood
Give a longer personal prayer time. About 1 minute of silent prayer would be good. Put a note in the bulletin to indicate that this will happen
Reach out to people who have left the congregation
Follow up with those who are sick
Get in mood for worship with music
Ask the pastor stand where all can greet him following worship
Rearrange the narthex so there is more room
Encourage people to greet guests following worship
Consider singing more uplifting music with more praise songs
Include a variety of music – both old standards and contemporary
Scriptures and sermon themes should be the same
Work to have the music support the sermon
Develop sermon aimed at personal needs and interests
Give people the opportunity to make a commitment during each worship and provide ways for them to follow through on that commitment
Encourage people to make personal contact with others outside the church building and issue invitations to others to join in worship
Post notices of special activities and upcoming events
Support lay speakers
Encourage involvement of the congregation during worship
Intentional Faith Development
Ask about using the bleachers at Nemo park for worship
Organize and take bus tours to places such as the gardens in Lee’s Summit
Make one call to new members or guests and set up a time of prayer for visitors
Take our duos, trios and other musicians to the shelter house for music in the park on Saturday evenings
Around New Year offer opportunities to make a plan/commitment for personal growth
Conduct special gatherings around Lent that provide time for reflection and an opportunity to learn about practices such as fasting
Gather with other churches for a joint worship
Organize outside prayer walks during the summer
Start an informal, alternative worship gathering
During the summer advertise “Jesus wore sandal, so can you” to create and highlight an informal worship atmosphere
Gather on boats for a time of reflection and prayer; worship on the island
Have a pontoon picnic and worship gathering
Offer worship at a local campground
Offer Vacation Bible School for school children (can we partner with another church?)
During back to school season support teachers by helping buy classroom supplies
Host a mother’s day out
Invite the community to an ice cream social
Start a Fellowship of Christian Athletes in a local school
Offer a daytime women’s bible study
In the fall offer learning opportunities about harvest, seasons and God’s creation
Continue the Trunk or Treat event
Around Thanksgiving learn about the role of thanksgiving in Scripture
At Christmas provide a study on the Scriptural basis for Christmas traditions; study the prophecies concerning the Messiah’s coming; use The Messiah musical for performances as well as study.
Offer a Bible 101 class for adults as well as kids
Sponsor a summer outdoor theater
Sponsor a Saturday bowling night
Bring in musical groups for performances
Risk-Taking Mission and Service
Continue to collect and unload food items for Wheatland Outreach, donate garage sale items to those in need, and support Children’s Advocacy Council, Relay for Life, Mozambique Initiative, Festival of Sharing, and the Salvation Army
Offer the church as a shelter during disasters
When a church member is in the newspaper clip it out and send a “We’re proud of you!” card
Develop a disaster response team to help during times of crisis
Consider a jail ministry to visit, write letters to, and advocate for prisoners
Develop a better follow up systems for those who have lost a loved one
Explore ways to let the community know about our Arm and Hammer handyman ministry
Explore the possibility of a backpack food program that ensures children have food to eat during the weekend
Consider whether the church can hire the needy to do jobs around the church
Extravagant Generosity
Host United Methodist Women’ craft festival to support global missions
Continue to collect Noisy Offerings
Host fundraiser breakfasts and dinners
Inform people of local needs so that we can continue to respond as needed
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