Let’s GROW something – like our membership!

Here are some interesting statistics.

•70 to 90% of people who join a congregation have a friend or relative already in the congregation.

• 75 to 90% visit because someone invited them.

• We know that the most frequent way in which people hear about us is through word of mouth.

• The average Unitarian Universalist only invites a person to church once every 26 years (and it may have dropped even more during the pandemic).

I concur with UUA consultant Mark Bernstein that our short-term goal shouldn’t be to increase the membership. The short-term goal is to enable our friends, neighbors and loved ones to experience the place that has brought us such joy and meaning. Why are we hesitant to spread the Good News of Unitarian Universalism?

Here is a story I’ve heard before (and you may have as well) that Bernstein shares to make a point.

Bernstein’s Point: When we invite people to our services, the sign we’re displaying should not be, “We need more members. Please help.” It should be, “We have a beautiful congregation and a beautiful building, and you haven’t seen it.”

Of course, during the pandemic, we may have to leave off the part about the building. But we do have an incredibly good community of loving, accepting, and talented folks and that should be something we want our friends, family and neighbors to experience as well. We just need to make an effort to invite them. But we also need to work on our follow-up. We HAVE had visitors come, both to our services in the building and our services online. What have we done to follow-up and assure them that they are welcome and assist them to move toward membership? And could we do more? Now some large churches have staff or (even multiple ministers) who can help make this happen. But as our earlier statistics show, the best folks to reach out are our lay people.

One UU member recently shared with me that she visited a church in another town – not a UU church – and signed the visitor’s book. Shortly after that someone rang her doorbell, shared some homemade bread with her and welcomed her to the community. Now because the theology and worship style were not ones that were that compatible with this person, she did not join that church. But the memory of the hospitality is still with her. There are many ways that we can possibly do a better job of inviting folks and following up with the visitors who do join in our services.

Now you may say, “Well Jane, why aren’t you doing this?” Indeed, I’m trying. But leading these zoom services make it difficult for me to stay on top of who is entering and connecting with those folks before they leave. So, I’m asking for your help. During the month of March, can you help us plant some seeds? Then, we will all try to water and nourish them. Let’s go. Let’s grow!

Rev. Jane continues her series using songs from Singing the Journey as her sacred text. This Sunday’s message is inspired by #1017, "Building a New Way." We will explore how the pandemic has thrust the need for finding new ways to worship, learn, share, and connect and how that might affect our path for the future of our congregations and our movement.

Guest Speaker, Dr. Addie Martindale, an Assistant Professor of Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design at Georgia Southern University. She will address how what we wear has deep impacts on the environment around us. From how our clothes are produced to how they are disposed of, there is a negative effect on the planet. Through consumer awareness, industry change, and individual evaluation of consumption practices there is hope that this can change.

Guest Speaker, Hermina Glass-Hill, MHP. As we prepare to commemorate World Water Day (May 22), Hermina Glass-Hill, Coastal Engagement Associate of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light shares a powerful message calling on us to explore water as an essential source and symbol for our lives and the future of the planet.

Rev. Jane continues her series using songs from Singing the Journey as her sacred text. This Sunday’s message is inspired by #1028, "The Fire of Commitment." How do our memories, stories, and dreams motivate our commitment to this faith and our principles?

Timeline -- March is auction month

The reading for discussion on March 21 will be How to Make a Slave and Other Essays by Jerald Walker, finalist for the 2020 National Book Award in Nonfiction. 

Contact: Dorin Schumacher 912-266-6558 or drdorin@earthlink.net

Join THIS Zoom Meeting at https://uuma.zoom.us/j/96389582995

Meeting ID: 96389582995

More about FAITHWORKS including Sparrow's Nest & The Well.

Email: rlmiller@netbox.com

The Virtual Choir of Statesboro and Coastal Georgia is composed of a dozen singers whose individual recordings are combined to form our Sunday anthems.

https://www.youtube.com/user/cowlisha