For Newcomers, we have a Welcome Desk that they can approach - right at the beginning of service. They can pick up a name tag there, get a coupon to the bookstore if they sign the guestbook and for a free newsletter; receive a copy of UU World; ask questions, etc.

Then, during the service, newcomers are specifically welcomed, invited to stand if they want, and encouraged to check out the Social Hour downstairs after the service.

Downstairs, after the service, there is a Newcomer’s Table - for first timers, or people who’ve visited numerous times, but aren’t members yet. They can get more information there, part. the church’s programs, groups, UUism in general, other UU churches in the area, and membership process info. Downstairs is where all of the tables are, as well as the Art Wall, and the bookstore - so it’s convenient to point people to those things from the Newcomer’s Table. You can watch folks make their way to the Religious Education table, or PeaceMaker’s table, or Good Times table, or Young Adult Table, etc.

I’ve volunteered at Welcome Desk, Newcomer’s Table, and Young Adult Table over the years, and it’s pretty easy and nice. I think my church does a good job of welcoming new comers without being overwhelming. Just the fact that the church is so large means visitors tend to drift around and get a lay of the land without much handholding.

@ GhostGirl I don’t think the pastor at the door at the end of the service is necessarily standard. Sometimes it’s done; sometimes it’s not. It’s a nice touch, but I think that often people feel visitors need something in the first few minutes rather than waiting 1-2 hours. Also, occasionally the minister ends up tied up by one person at the end…

Does this not happen anymore or something? Or is it a non-Unitarian practice? I’ve only ever been to one Unitarian church (yours, in fact, in high school.)

Also, my parents’ church has a “share the peace” time in the middle of the service. Everyone stands up, stretches, and shakes hands with the people near them. I think that works rather well, too.

My church is so large, they only ask first timers to stand (at which point they are clapped for as a group). In other places, I’ve seen people quite eager to identify themselves. I like public speaking, but I don’t like to introduce myself when I’m visiting a church because I’m already a member elsewhere, but sometimes someone nudges me to do so anyway.

I got up the nerve to introduce myself the third time I went, and I did sort of feel like I was going to pass out but I survived. *g* I kept attempting to go to the coffee hour, but I’d feel out of place (not knowing anybody to talk to) and leave. About four weeks in, the minister explained during the service that the colored mugs were meant as a sign that you were a visitor and wanted people to come up to you. So, I tried that and had some nice conversations, which felt like a success on my part.

So, I think that all of the methods of visitor out-reach are good as long as they aren’t pursued too agressively. I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to feel pressured to introduce myself on the first visit (or ever), so maybe that’s something that’s best for larger congregations where a new person won’t be very noticeable rather than smaller groups.

Yikes, sorry my comment here is so long!