Welcome!  Perhaps that’s the best word with which to start as we begin this new feature for Pacific Church News. Welcome to this space, available to share our ideas and questions, that we may better share with others the gladness of our life in Christ.

Many of our congregations are inviting and incorporating newcomers, and most would like to do more.  Let’s share what we’ve got.  How do you appeal to newcomers in your community? We welcome your input and ideas. Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

In this issue we feature a signature event offered by St. Paul’s, Walnut Creek.  Their fifth annual Valentine’s Tea was once again a delight, and a great example of a concept that can be shared and personalized for other parishes.

A single afternoon raised $4,700 for Living Grace, a residential provider for developmentally disabled women, and the Bay Point Family Health Clinic, which offers medical assistance to low income families.   And here’s a bonus — it was estimated that over half of the 150 people in attendance were from outside the community of St. Paul’s.  A great moment for evangelism! (And poufy hats.  And tea-time delicacies.  And happy chatter.  And Earl Grey.)

The parish hall was a sea of Valentine pinks and reds and flowers, dotted with tea tables set with china teapots and accessories.  The finger sandwiches, baked enchantments and tea assortments were a delight to behold (but only briefly before they vanished).  A pianist played love songs, and guests bought homemade goodies and browsed the silent auction tables, whose star feature was a beautiful quilt donated by Kathy Crowell.  The new rector of St. Paul’s, Sylvia Vasquez, was a vision in rose, gliding across the room like a mother swan amongst the guests.  (It is not strictly necessary for a congregation to be possessed of a mother-swanlike rector in order to attempt an event such as this.  Any sort of rector will do, with or without hat or gliding skills.)This was a worthy effort, and a fun one: It raised much-needed funds for important ministries;  It brought newcomers in the doors of St. Paul’s – and, who knows?  There may be a moment in someone’s life when they will really need to know how to find their way back to that church – and its welcoming people.

If you would like to share an idea for welcoming newcomers, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it