By MARIE PANTON
Episcopal Life Staff

BEFORE VISITING Christ Church in Ballston Spa, N.Y., almost a year ago, Doug Mattice was not an avid churchgoer. As a result, his experience at the first service was confusing. "I was a little uncomfortable. There were lots of kneeling, standing, and I did not know when to do what," said Mattice. However, parishioners were welcoming and helpful. "I felt comfortable afterwards because people offered me guidance as well as their friendship."

According to the Rev. Derik Roy, rector for almost nine years, making newcomers feel welcome begins the moment a visitor arrives at the door. "I really think that you could have an inspiring worship service, but if the people don't treat you warmly and kindly, then all of those good things are going to go to naught."

When he first came to the parish, average attendance for both services was about 130 people. Evangelism efforts focused inside the church. Today, attendance is close to 220, with 80 children in Sunday school and 100 adults involved in a weekly formation group. Evangelism efforts are placed on drawing people from the community into the church. "We need to let people know that we are here, because then they will come in and get involved in some of the activities offered by the parish," he said.

One of the activities everyone in the parish gets involved in is the greeter ministry, Roy said. "We have people designated to do certain things; however, we try to see that as everybody's role." Each person wears a name tag on Sundays. A three-pew ministry happens during the Passing of the Peace. "When the peace is shared, the parishioner shares his or her name, asks if the person sitting next to him is a visitor and, if he is, then they will be introduced to three other people," said Roy, that usually include the rector, an assistant or a staff person. At the coffee hour, a visitor is usually brought into the midst of conversations and introduced to parishioners. 

Dennis and Lynne Crimi lived in the area many years ago, moved away and returned about three years ago. Recognizing their spiritual growth, the Crimis said they did a lot of church shopping. They almost left the Episcopal Church because of its tendency to be a little stuffy, said Lynne Crimi. "We had the sense in some churches that people did not care if we came back ... as if we were intruding."

When they found Christ Church, they liked it immediately.

"The number-one reason that attracted us was that people were smiling and very friendly," said Dennis Crimi.

His wife added, "People there seemed very down-to-earth, in addition to what we thought was a really nice blend of renewal music while keeping the old music, The Book of Common Prayer, the Litany, and still singing from the hymnal." She also called the bulletin impressive. "It says 'The head of the church: Jesus Christ. Then the names of key officials followed, and at the bottom of the page it says, The ministers: the parishioners.'" 

Lynne Crimi said Christ Church recognizes each individual as sinners, and people have told her that they enjoy coming because they feel accepted in their brokenness.
"They don't have to be perfect to come here," she said.

A newcomer two years ago, Cathy Larosa, a divorced mother of four children and at the time a devout Roman Catholic, said she walked into the church with a real level of shame and failure, but she was not judged.

"I felt very embraced right away," said Larosa. "Someone stopped me right after the service and told me about coffee hour, and, although I did not make it, I still felt very welcomed and accepted. They have ended up being my new social circle, and they helped me through the hardest time of my life."

Dave Collum has been a member for 11 years, responsible for training greeters and making sure that other people in the congregation reach out to newcomers. He thinks the support parishioners give each other helps to build relationships. "Our church model is very simple. The pastor should be in a position to proclaim the word ... talk about who Jesus is. But people will come back and stay in a church because of the relationship that they form, and Christianity is a religion of relationships."

Roy talked about the importance of being welcoming. "There are a lot of people who really need Christ in their lives, so we need to be opening our doors and building bridges to people," he said. "It is the primary purpose of the church, as it says it our prayer book, 'to restore, to be welcoming, providing a path or bridge for people to come.'"

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