The importance of a welcoming digital front door<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For many potential guests and visitors, the church website is their first point of contact. This is especially true in the Pacific Northwest, where traditional pathways to church attendance\u2014such as learned behavior (growing up in the church) or community invitations\u2014are not as strong. A well-crafted website can serve as a welcoming digital front door, providing a first impression that can invite someone in or turn them away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a region where many people are unfamiliar with church customs, jargon, and even the basic structure of a worship service, your website can demystify the experience and ease anxieties. By including clear information for guests and visitors, you can demonstrate hospitality and a genuine desire to connect with those seeking a new church home and exploring faith for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Designing your website for guests and visitors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To make your website as welcoming as possible, consider including the following elements. Don’t let the list be a barrier. If your website isn’t visitor friendly, start working on incorporating new ideas one at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Chugiak-UMC.jpg?resize=696%2C732&ssl=1\")
<\/a>1. A dedicated \u201cNew Here\u201d or \u201cPlan Your Visit\u201d page<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
A page dedicated to the needs and questions of newcomers can be a real asset. Such a page should be easy to find from your homepage and include the following details:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Service times and locations: <\/em>List the times of your worship services and provide the address of your church. Include a map (or a link to one) and information about parking, public transportation, and accessibility for people with disabilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What to expect: <\/em>Briefly describe what a typical service is like. Include information on the style of worship, how long the service typically lasts, and what people usually wear. If you have different services (e.g., traditional, contemporary, family-oriented like Messy Church), explain the differences so visitors can choose what suits them best.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- FAQs: <\/em>Address common questions such as \u201cIs there childcare?\u201d, \u201cDo I need to bring anything or give money?\u201d and \u201cDo I need to be a member to participate in communion?\u201d Anticipating these questions can ease visitors\u2019 concerns and make them feel more at home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Visitor information on special events and services<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Many first visit a church on holidays like Christmas and Easter, for special occasions like a wedding or funeral, or by participating in a community outreach program (e.g., community dinners, VBS, etc.). Ensure your website highlights these events and includes information specifically for first-time visitors. Explain if an event is family-friendly, whether RSVPs are needed, or if there\u2019s anything special guests should know. Please plan so you understand how you will welcome and follow up with visitors who attend so their first visit is not their last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Introduction to Church Leadership and Ministries<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Incorporating a page introducing your church\u2019s leadership, including pastors, ministry leaders, and essential volunteers, can help put a face to the name. Include brief bios and photos so visitors feel connected before entering your doors. Additionally, providing an overview of ministries visitors may be interested in, such as children\u2019s programs, youth groups, adult Bible studies, and community outreach opportunities, is a chance to communicate how your church is vital and making a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Clear and Warm Language<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The language you use on your website matters. Again, avoid jargon or \u201cchurch-speak\u201d that might confuse someone unfamiliar with Christian or Methodist terminology. Instead, use clear, simple language that conveys warmth and openness. Remember, the goal is to make people feel welcome and included, regardless of their background or familiarity with church life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avoid using insider language and acronyms, especially on visitor-orientated pages and as much as possible across your website. For example, words like \u2018traditional\u2019 and \u2018contemporary\u2019 beg further description for people with no or little church experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Give visitors a look inside your building<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Offering a virtual tour of your church through video or a photo gallery can help visitors feel more comfortable by giving them a sense of what to expect when they arrive. Consider including a simple map, especially if your church has several entrances. Showcasing different spaces\u2014such as the sanctuary, fellowship hall, Sunday School classrooms and nurseries\u2014can be particularly useful for those anxious about visiting a new place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Contact information and follow-up<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Make it easy for potential visitors to contact you with any questions. Include a contact form, email address, or phone number, and ensure that someone can respond promptly. Additionally, consider offering a way for visitors to let you know they\u2019re planning to attend so you can greet them personally when they arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/FUMC-PDX.jpg?resize=696%2C746&ssl=1\")
First UMC of Portland’s website does an excellent job of balancing being visitor-friendly and communicating the values and life of an active congregation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Some good examples from across the region<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your church website needs to reflect the lived reality of your congregation and the ministries you engage in. While it is okay to be modestly aspirational, avoid using stock photography and language that presents the church other than it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, it can be helpful to look at other websites for examples of how they use their digital front doors to welcome people. Below is a list of good examples from across the area. Each communicates welcome and support to potential visitors in different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Bothell UMC<\/em>\u2014Bothell UMC\u2019s website<\/a> is a phenomenal example of a website designed for the community outside the church. While you can find things that can resource church members, nearly everything, including the home page, is intended to facilitate a connection between someone visiting the website and the church and its ministries. The site does an excellent job of communicating the church\u2019s values, which likely assists visitors to know whether the community is right for them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Chugiak UMC\u2014<\/em>The first tab on the navigation of Chugiak UMC\u2019s website takes you to a page titled \u201cFor Our Visitors<\/a>,\u201d which answers visitors\u2019 questions and helpfully establishes shared expectations. The language used was down-to-earth and intentional about giving visitors agency in how the church will welcome them. This sensitivity is wise as not everyone appreciates the attention some churches give to first-time visitors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hillview UMC\u2014<\/em>Hillview UMC\u2019s website<\/a> immediately greets visitors with an invitation declaring that \u201cJesus is good news for everyone\u201d and inviting people to visit and find a place of belonging. The site delivers the message alongside two buttons, one reading \u201cPlan your visit\u201d and the other saying \u201cWatch online.\u201d Intentional or not, both are likely destinations for people checking a church out online in the age of streaming. Clicking the first button takes you to a page with information tailored for visitors and opportunities to learn more about the church.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Portland First UMC\u2014<\/em>Similar to Bothell UMC\u2019s website, First UMC of Portland\u2019s attractive website<\/a> also prioritizes guests. Whether you load it on mobile or the web, the website greets you with the large word \u201cWelcome\u201d and a \u201cNew Here\u201d button, which takes you to a colorful page with information offered explicitly for new visitors. The website does an excellent job of balancing being visitor-friendly and communicating the life of an active congregation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Embracing the Opportunity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it.\u201d<\/em> – Hebrews 13:2 (CEB)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
United Methodist congregations have an opportunity across our Greater Northwest Area to extend Christ\u2019s love and hospitality through their online presence to people with limited direct church experience. By thoughtfully crafting your website with potential guests and visitors in mind, you can create a welcoming environment that encourages exploration, fosters connection, and ultimately leads to deeper community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we seek to share the gospel and build relationships in an area that sometimes feels spiritually disconnected, let Paul\u2019s letter to the Hebrews inspire us to open our spiritual homes for all. Today, hospitality often begins online, so let\u2019s do what we can to open our digital front doors wide. You never know; the next person who visits your church may become a key leader tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Pacific Northwest region’s None Zone reality presents both a challenge and an opportunity for United Methodist churches. By optimizing their online presence to welcome potential visitors, Patrick Scriven writes that churches create a welcoming digital front door, offering essential information, easing anxieties, and fostering community connections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,19,65],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-23798","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-communications","8":"category-greater-northwest-area","9":"category-resources"},"yoast_head":"\n
Welcoming new people online - Greater Northwest Area | News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Welcoming new people online - Greater Northwest Area | News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Pacific Northwest region's None Zone reality presents both a challenge and an opportunity for United Methodist churches. By optimizing their online presence to welcome potential visitors, Patrick Scriven writes that churches create a welcoming digital front door, offering essential information, easing anxieties, and fostering community connections.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Greater Northwest Area | News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/greaternw\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-08-21T16:42:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-08-21T16:42:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1235\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Patrick Scriven\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Patrick Scriven\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Patrick Scriven\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9599498d86684a4abec2ed2cf6eafe66\"},\"headline\":\"Welcoming new people online\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-21T16:42:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-08-21T16:42:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1482,\"commentCount\":2,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1\",\"articleSection\":[\"Communications\",\"Greater Northwest Area\",\"Resources\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/\",\"name\":\"Welcoming new people online - Greater Northwest Area | News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-21T16:42:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-08-21T16:42:23+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1235},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/welcoming-new-people-online\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Welcoming new people online\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"Greater Northwest Area | News\",\"description\":\"Stories of Mission and Ministry\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church\",\"alternateName\":\"GNWUMC\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/12\\\/cropped-GNW-NEWS.gif?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/12\\\/cropped-GNW-NEWS.gif?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/facebook.com\\\/greaternw\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9599498d86684a4abec2ed2cf6eafe66\",\"name\":\"Patrick Scriven\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/52b521f53b0534d5dc0091708188452c6af777c0b5cbead62ea0fd6b9f30fd69?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/52b521f53b0534d5dc0091708188452c6af777c0b5cbead62ea0fd6b9f30fd69?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/52b521f53b0534d5dc0091708188452c6af777c0b5cbead62ea0fd6b9f30fd69?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Patrick Scriven\"},\"description\":\"Patrick Scriven is a husband who married well, a father of three amazing girls, and a seminary-educated layperson working professionally in The United Methodist Church. Scriven serves the Pacific Northwest Conference as Director of Communications.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/greaternw.org\\\/news\\\/author\\\/patrick\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Welcoming new people online - Greater Northwest Area | News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Welcoming new people online - Greater Northwest Area | News","og_description":"The Pacific Northwest region's None Zone reality presents both a challenge and an opportunity for United Methodist churches. By optimizing their online presence to welcome potential visitors, Patrick Scriven writes that churches create a welcoming digital front door, offering essential information, easing anxieties, and fostering community connections.","og_url":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/","og_site_name":"Greater Northwest Area | News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/greaternw","article_published_time":"2024-08-21T16:42:22+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-08-21T16:42:23+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1235,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Patrick Scriven","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Patrick Scriven","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/"},"author":{"name":"Patrick Scriven","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/9599498d86684a4abec2ed2cf6eafe66"},"headline":"Welcoming new people online","datePublished":"2024-08-21T16:42:22+00:00","dateModified":"2024-08-21T16:42:23+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/"},"wordCount":1482,"commentCount":2,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1","articleSection":["Communications","Greater Northwest Area","Resources"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/","url":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/","name":"Welcoming new people online - Greater Northwest Area | News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1","datePublished":"2024-08-21T16:42:22+00:00","dateModified":"2024-08-21T16:42:23+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1","width":2000,"height":1235},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/welcoming-new-people-online\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Welcoming new people online"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/","name":"Greater Northwest Area | News","description":"Stories of Mission and Ministry","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#organization","name":"Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church","alternateName":"GNWUMC","url":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/cropped-GNW-NEWS.gif?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/cropped-GNW-NEWS.gif?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/greaternw"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/9599498d86684a4abec2ed2cf6eafe66","name":"Patrick Scriven","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52b521f53b0534d5dc0091708188452c6af777c0b5cbead62ea0fd6b9f30fd69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52b521f53b0534d5dc0091708188452c6af777c0b5cbead62ea0fd6b9f30fd69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52b521f53b0534d5dc0091708188452c6af777c0b5cbead62ea0fd6b9f30fd69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Patrick Scriven"},"description":"Patrick Scriven is a husband who married well, a father of three amazing girls, and a seminary-educated layperson working professionally in The United Methodist Church. Scriven serves the Pacific Northwest Conference as Director of Communications.","url":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/author\/patrick\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Church-Welcome-art.png?fit=2000%2C1235&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23798"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23815,"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23798\/revisions\/23815"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greaternw.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} - Chugiak UMC\u2014<\/em>The first tab on the navigation of Chugiak UMC\u2019s website takes you to a page titled \u201cFor Our Visitors<\/a>,\u201d which answers visitors\u2019 questions and helpfully establishes shared expectations. The language used was down-to-earth and intentional about giving visitors agency in how the church will welcome them. This sensitivity is wise as not everyone appreciates the attention some churches give to first-time visitors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What to expect: <\/em>Briefly describe what a typical service is like. Include information on the style of worship, how long the service typically lasts, and what people usually wear. If you have different services (e.g., traditional, contemporary, family-oriented like Messy Church), explain the differences so visitors can choose what suits them best.<\/li>\n\n\n\n