This is part of a series of interviews with pastors of churches whose attendance has grown 20% or more in 5 years. We hope this series will be a resource of ideas to help increase worship attendance at your church.

Rev. Holly Gotelli, Associate Pastor, lists factors that helped Suncreek UMC grow in worship attendance over the last few years.

• Creation and systematic updating of our church website, which provides detailed help for visitors, a church calendar, and lists of all classes and other small group opportunities for children, youth, and adults. Sermons are posted weekly.
• Systematic follow-up with visitors, including letters, phone calls and emails.
• Creation and staffing of a Guest Welcome Center in our narthex.
• Use of signs and banners outside of our location, which is on a main thoroughfare.



• Advertising by direct mail and in local newspapers.
• Excellence in worship – pragmatic, helpful preaching that relates to daily living; outstanding inspirational music; bulletins that are visitor-friendly; heavy use of banners, tablescapes, and other visual media to convey and reinforce the message.
• Three distinct worship services: an early, more contemplative service; a blended service that incorporates contemporary music and traditional liturgy; and a third service incorporating hymns, choirs, and traditional liturgy.
• A friendly and warm atmosphere – greeters at every door; a greeting time during worship; ‘worship wiggle bags’ for young children; a children’s time during worship.
• Childcare provided during every worship hour.
• Creative, fun Sunday School for youth and children.
• Multiple Sunday School classes for adults.
• Construction of a new sanctuary which features a center aisle, rose window, and traditional pews. This sacred space connects spiritually and culturally with a significant segment of our community that prefers a more traditional worship experience.

 

Rev. Holly Gotelli - Associate Pastor – holly.gotelli@SuncreekUMC.org

Church website – http://suncreekumc.org