Welcome to Chrysalis
Subtitle that Highlights Your Commitment to Radical Hospitality
Statement of Welcome
Not everyone feels welcome at church, and visiting for the first time can be intimidating. This statement gives you the opportunity to let people know just how welcome they really are. If you have a long, congregational statement, put it on your Beliefs page and use a condensed version here.
Welcome Video
From Our Pastor
Try a message like this one for this section: One of the best ways to get engaged at Chrysalis is to join us for worship. We know that visiting a Church for the first time can be overwhelming, so we hope to make your experience as comfortable as possible. Please read through our FAQs, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
Replace the signature below with an image of the actual signature. It will need to be a .png file with a transparent background. If you have a video welcome message, you may not feel the need to have this section.
Sincerely,
Deborah Adams
Pastor Deb
Frequently Asked Questions
What is worship like?
This space should feature a plain-spoken description of your worship services that will help a visitor imagine what it would be like to participate. Link to a recorded service if you want to give them an example.
If you have online worship, be sure to describe that as well. In fact, have an answer ready related to online worship for every relevant question.
I have children. How does worship work for us?
Nursery care, Sunday School, children’s sermon, children’s church, breast feeding, fussy kids, activity kits, Communion and kids…these are just some of the topics that can be broached here. Use Bolded text or H3 formatting for headings (which can be straightforward or stated as questions) and regular text for friendly answers.
How should we dress for worship?
How do people typically dress in your congregation? People want to know they won’t feel out of place or uncomfortable with how they look. Be honest about the norms in your congregation.
During Communion what should I do?
What are the procedures and policies surrounding Communion? Who can partake? Explain how the sacrament of Communion works in your setting, while remembering to keep your language simple and clear.
Remember, this is not the place for an in-depth, theological treatise of Communion. If you feel you need that, link to a separate post, page, site or document where people can read more.
Do we need to give an offering? How does that work?
Many churches are explicit that a guest’s presence is their gift, but let readers know how the offering works, how funds are used, how to give online, and so on.
How do people follow along with worship? Will I be able to keep up?
Do you use hymnals, bulletins, screens, or some other combination? Explain how the visitor can follow along. If you use a lot of liturgy, let guests know it’s OK if they can’t keep up their first time. Offer to pair them with someone if they’d like by contacting the church office.
Where should I park? How do I get to the worship area?
Whether you’re blessed with a huge parking lot or not, it’s important to help people know what to expect. Describe the parking situation, along with how one moves through the building into the worship space. If there are designated spaces for guests, note that too. If you have greeters, let readers know there are people they can ask for help.
Also, refer guests to the map and directions section by using this link.
I'm nervous in new social situations. Will I have to talk to people?
Many people are anxious about visiting because they don’t like small talk or don’t like the feeling of being left alone. Let visitors know it’s OK if they come right as the service is starting and leave immediately afterward. You can also recommend they try out online worship.
By the way, it’s always good to have a policy for ushers and greeters to notice body language and give visitors space when they think it’s appropriate.
I have a disability. Can I still participate in worship?
How do you assist people with different types of impairments? Do you have ramps, wheelchairs, accessible restrooms, large print hymnals, hearing devices, sign language interpreters, and so on? Be sure to provide more than a simple list; let people know, for example, where to get assisted listening devices or where to find the elevator.
By the way, did you know that many visually-impaired people’s first impression of your church will be how accessible your website is? Contact us if you’d like help making your website more accessible.
People like me aren't welcome at every church. What about yours?
This is another opportunity to refer to any type of inclusion statement or policy you have and how you live into it. A generic statement like, “We’re a friendly church” or “We welcome everyone” doesn’t answer the question. Even mentioning gender-ncutral and family-friendly restrooms can say a lot about who you are!
Great Groups for Getting Started
Building Maps and Directions
