COLLABORATORS: Carrie Calvert, Cheryl Corbitt, Maureen Sipperley
march 2025
Hey Leaders!
Hope at Home is a major focus of our church. On the last Sunday of every month, our congregation is split up into approved, safe, and friendly homes within the community to gather, to worship, and to dive into the Word together.
We believe that our faith in Jesus goes far beyond the church property. Meeting together at the Homestead church property is important, but real life, real family and community, happens in our homes. We believe that real friendship and faith also will come from our homes.
Hosting our Hope at Home groups is a unique opportunity to cultivate meaningful relationships within our church community and collectively pursue deeper worship and love of God.
Our primary aim is to establish an environment where individuals feel genuinely connected, valued, and heard. To achieve this, we focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere that extends beyond mere hospitality.
Practical considerations, such as a well-organized beverage station and clear directions, are important for facilitating a smooth gathering. We encourage delegating tasks among family members to ensure the hosting responsibilities are shared, allowing the host to focus on engaging with guests.
By providing a comfortable space and intentionally engaging with each person – remembering names, making eye contact, and following up on previous conversations – we create an environment where everyone feels seen and appreciated. Utilizing ideas like name tags, themed meals, and setting atmosphere to cater to all 5 senses, can significantly enhance connection and foster a sense of belonging. Ultimately, our goal is to serve our church family, enriching their lives through shared faith and fellowship.
We asked a couple of hosts to share their practical tips and insights!
Hope at Home is a major focus of our church. On the last Sunday of every month, our congregation is split up into approved, safe, and friendly homes within the community to gather, to worship, and to dive into the Word together.
We believe that our faith in Jesus goes far beyond the church property. Meeting together at the Homestead church property is important, but real life, real family and community, happens in our homes. We believe that real friendship and faith also will come from our homes.
Hosting our Hope at Home groups is a unique opportunity to cultivate meaningful relationships within our church community and collectively pursue deeper worship and love of God.
Our primary aim is to establish an environment where individuals feel genuinely connected, valued, and heard. To achieve this, we focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere that extends beyond mere hospitality.
Practical considerations, such as a well-organized beverage station and clear directions, are important for facilitating a smooth gathering. We encourage delegating tasks among family members to ensure the hosting responsibilities are shared, allowing the host to focus on engaging with guests.
By providing a comfortable space and intentionally engaging with each person – remembering names, making eye contact, and following up on previous conversations – we create an environment where everyone feels seen and appreciated. Utilizing ideas like name tags, themed meals, and setting atmosphere to cater to all 5 senses, can significantly enhance connection and foster a sense of belonging. Ultimately, our goal is to serve our church family, enriching their lives through shared faith and fellowship.
We asked a couple of hosts to share their practical tips and insights!
The summary below is from the video.
Carrie Calvert
Cheryl Corbitt
Maureen Sipperley
Hopefully these tips will help you host Hope at Home well!
God bless!
Carrie Calvert
- It’s helpful to have a beverage center. People can make their own coffee and have access to all available drinks.
- People need to know where to go.
- Delegate jobs to your children/family so all the setup is not on one person:
- Set out the sign
- Direct parking
- Make sure lawn is mowed and clean
- Food prep
- The host can provide the main course (tip: Bob Evans pre-made breakfast bake from Sam's/Gordon/Costco that feeds 20)
- Having a basket of plates/forks/napkins always in your pantry makes setup easy
- They vary the plan with the children (sometimes outside, sometimes in another room, etc.)
Cheryl Corbitt
- Make sure you greet everyone so they feel at home
- The goal is for people to feel loved, seen, and heard - all other hosting needs are not important in relation to this goal.
- They make sure it’s a place where they can come and be loved on
Maureen Sipperley
- They use name tags - it’s very valuable for people to know each others’ names
- They look everyone in the eye letting them know they matter to them and follow up with previous conversations
- They use the different name tag colors to randomly group people together for prayer clumps/groups
- Encourage people to bring food and celebrate the food they bring
- You can theme the breakfasts (omelet bar, breakfast sandwich bar, breakfast tacos, etc.)
- It’s helpful to put out a list so people don’t bring duplicate items
- Put out a reminder at least a week in advance so people have time to get groceries or prepare
- It’s helpful to show people matter when you thoughtfully care for their dietary needs when you prepare food
- You can use labels to identify the food (and indicate what is spicy)
- Think of the 5 senses - have it clean/decorated/warm/inviting, smelling good, have comfy blankets and pillows, have tasty food, and ambience/background music/worship music
- Remember that you’re sowing seed into the Kingdom and helping disciple people
Hopefully these tips will help you host Hope at Home well!
God bless!