Your Congregation’s Two Signatures
What do people in your community know about your congregation? I’m not asking about those who have attended the church or know someone who is a member. What about your neighbors who go to another church? Or the neighbors who do not attend any church? We want to be known for Word and Sacrament-our meaningful liturgy and thought-provoking preaching. But those who do not attend will know us in other ways. This includes those members that they know personally whose lives can be the greatest attractor (or detractor) for those who know them. Yet, there are two other ways you can become known. The first is through signature events, which I will write about this week. Then I will follow up with the second, and probably most important signature next week.
Signature Events
There should be community events in which your church take part that are not your event. For Trinity, Statesboro, amd other congregations in the Diocese of Georgia, this includes taking part in Relay for Life. The church’s participation is visible, but this is a Cancer Society event. Taking part is a great idea, but this is not what I mean. For Trinity, the concerts offered in the church are more significant. They are announced on Georgia Public Radio frequently and so keep the congregation’s name on the public ear (lapsed Methodists who listen to NPR are known easy targets for an Episcopal Church).
Big and Small, Fundraiser or Free
The event can be a large-scale project that raises funds, such as St. Peter’s, Savannah, hosting an Antique Sale (check presentation from this event at left) and Christ Church, Frederica, arranging a Tour of Homes. These are examples of the most successful fundraisers, whose proceeds go not to the church, but to other ministries in the community. It is easier to get broad community participation when all understand that the money will benefit the whole community and not just the church. A fundraiser need not be large for a church to get known for it. Many people in Swainsboro and around the Diocese look forward to the apple sale put on by Good Shepherd, Swainsboro. And the event need not be a fundraiser. The free Trunk or Treat at King of Peace, Kingsland, brings in hundreds with free pony rides and a free train ride. The total cost is quite low and is covered by King of Peace Episcopal Day School from its advertising budget and no cost to the church.
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I refer to the event as a signature event for those who do not attend your church will know that it is yours. This is something your church does with or for your community. This will be how many with no church home will 
first learn of your congregation. Attending an event other than the Sunday liturgy can make it easier for a newcomer to come back later for worship. It lowers the threshold to have already been in the space. This is important because church thresholds are unintentionally high. It is difficult for newcomers to decide to cross them without some good reason, whether that be familiarity with the denomination (rarer in South Georgia) or by knowing someone who attends the church and speaks well of it (always the best method).
What event does your congregation put on each year that is circled on the calendar of those who do not attend your church? What one event could you add that would help your church make it mark on your town? Next week, I will consider one wore signature, which is probably the more important of the two.
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue
Canon for Congregational Ministries
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