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Our assignment was to come up with a list of artifacts relevant to the specific culture that we're studying. I brainstormed and came up with a few things which define church culture, particularly things which encompass the Sunday gathering. Those were the Bible, worship music, announcements, the building itself, seating/pews/chairs, sound equipment, and childcare facilities. I would like to focus more on what many church's call the "welcome card." What an interesting thing.
As long as I've been going to a church, there have always been welcome cards. At the first church I attended, we were given pamphlets at the door, which welcomed us, reminded us of the church's mission statement, and gave us space to write down any prayer requests. We placed these cards in offering baskets which were passed around every week and then distributed to the church deacons and ministers. At the church I attend now, we arrive each Sunday to find small, simple welcome cards already waiting in the seats. Regulars and visitors too place these cards in an offering basket, but do so on their own time because the basket isn't passed around, it sits by the door. In both cases, the welcome cards make an effort to warmly welcome and encourage those who have never attended the church before.
What an interesting thing. I've never thought about how a church goes about designing and embodying the welcome card. Are they all the more significant than a simple verbal welcome? Do people respond well to these? Personally, I feel comforted when it is made known to me that a church is willing to pray for me.
I will surely look into this more as I go about my project.
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