Forty people gathered across two sessions last week, one on Monday evening (11 September) and the other on Tuesday morning (12 September) to focus on ’The gift of Welcome’ in our Parish.

In introducing the topic, facilitators Richard McMahon and Lisa Bright from Synodal Consulting asked participants to consider how Jesus, in connecting and making people feel welcome, always stepped out to meet them where they were. Group discussion then followed on why welcome is important and what makes a good welcome experience.

From there, formation continued around the meaning of ‘welcome’ and how it needs to be an intentional mindset of our whole community approach. The group watched a thought-provoking video titled ‘What if Starbucks marketed like a church?’, which stimulated great discussion.

In the last part of the workshop participants reviewed what we currently do to welcome people and looked at strategies and ideas for how we, as a parish, can become even more intentional in our welcome to others.

The ideas and information will be collated and passed on to the Parish Pastoral Council for consideration in their pastoral planning.

Copies of the workshop resource are available if anyone would like a copy. Please contact the Pastoral Office on 02 6583 1024 or email pastoraloffice@stagnesparish.org.au.