Stories of Invitation
By Jim Merk

My story of invitation is two-fold, an invitation made to me by friends and the invitations by Pastor Juancho.  Just about five years ago my wife and I were invited by friends to a performance at New England Congregational Church; they were featuring a folk group and serving desserts. To my surprise the church had a large room with a stage. Unfortunately, the stage lights weren't being used and the room was very bright, not what you would expect for a performance. The show was good and so were the desserts, but the room and stage lacked interest.

From that invitation, I came up with the idea to start a Cultural & Fine Arts Committee here at Wesley. With the committee formed we started to come up with different ideas of what types of entertainment we should bring to Wesley and the community. The Gathering Place would be a perfect venue for the performances we would be bring, but the stage and the Gathering Place need work. Thanks to the Trustees and monies from the Memorial Committee, we were able to renovate the stage and the Gathering Place. With those renovations completed we have brought ten performances from Luau's to Madrigals for your enjoyment. Many of you have come to these performances, and have brought your friends. On behalf of the committee, we THANK YOU!

From that simple invitation, a whole new program was developed. Many of you have invited people to come to one or more of the events we have held over the past four years. This is a very easy, non-threatening way to have people come to Wesley to find out what we are all about.

This brings me to the second part of my story. Pastor Juancho has gone above and beyond in inviting people to these events. About a month ago I was introduced to a couple who were invited by Pastor Juancho to come to a number of events. Dick and Sandy Arcus had been members of Pastor Juancho's former church. They had enjoyed the performances and now would like to help! They are now part of the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee. They drive in from Lemont both for Sunday services and to help the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee. To say the least I am personally gratified.

I would like to end by reading you a few verses from The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24):

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."  Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.' "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' "Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' "Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can't come.' "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' "‘Sir,' the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' "Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.  I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

Remember that it is OK to "go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come" or to invite them to come to events like those that the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee sponsor. It may lead to them coming to Sunday services and hopefully joining the church.

Stories of Invitation
By Kathy Breazeale and Lin Waid

As you must know by now, with all the information and training we have gathered thru our Church Turnaround program and coach, the most important element of church growth is becoming invitational. We must invite, invite, invite. Invite our neighbors, our friends, our family members, our massage therapist, our barber, our teachers, that is anyone who we have even the slightest relationship with. You don't have to invite them to worship right away.  Invite them to something less formal like the upcoming Fine Arts ½ Way to St. Paddy's Day Event, or the spaghetti supper, or the Upcoming Trunk or Treat.  Maybe your neighbors would like to put their car in the parking lot for trick or treaters.  Maybe your neighbor is a retired teacher and might like to volunteer at Greenman School with you.   It is proven that nowadays, people do not usually come into your church because of banners or beautiful signs out front or ads in the newspapers or phone books (as you know, both of these medias are getting lost to users of the internet).  People come because they are invited.  What did I just say?  Repeat after me:  "People come because THEY ARE INVITED".  And they STAY and become part of the church when they come with the person who invited them, maybe picked them up, introduced them to their church friends, sat with them at church or a potluck dinner.  How do I know this works?   This is not a new-fangled idea.  It works.  I have asked Lin Waid up here to talk about why and how she came to Wesley. Lin has a story that she remembers well.  It has something to do with a neighbor from a long time ago.

Lin, how did we meet?   Lin, how many years has your family been coming to Wesley? 

(Lin's story)

And friends, would you be surprised if I told you that I don't remember the actual event that Lin is talking about.  I remember being friendly neighbors with them but not the actual invitation.  See how we touch other's lives and not even know it.

I can't take credit for her whole story, but because Lin was invited, ??? years later she is an active and vital part of Wesley United Methodist church. So, I am asking you to make a point to invite a person to some event or happening this fall.