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Create Deeper Community Within Your Small Church & Keep Visitors Coming Back!

Do you want to deepen your relationship with your small church members and visitors too? See how you can have a regular after church fellowship meal!

Easy Steps To Host A Church Fellowship Meal

Do you want to deepen your relationship with your fellow small church attendees? Want to set your church apart from the big church down the street? Want to relay to visitors that you care to get to know them?

Have a regular low to no-cost after church fellowship meal!

A new attendee told me just the other day that he decided to continue coming to my church because of these weekly meals. He feels connected, and it allows him to serve by helping with clean-up.

Also, I was able to have a deep, meaningful conversation with a woman during one of these meals. She shared some hurts and concerns with me. I was able to empathize and encourage her. I shared some struggles of my own and she was able to reciprocate by uplifting me. We bonded and our relationship was strengthened. 

Sadly, many churchgoers put on their Sunday go-to-meeting masks before they walk in the church building doors. We say, “How are you today?” The obligatory response is, “Good, how about you?” “I’m well”, we say. Then we go to worship, we may say a few pleasantries after service and then we all head back to our busy, hectic lives feeling as disconnected with the body of Christ as we did last week.

The big church may have lots of programs and events, but your small church is able to have intimate, relationship-building, weekly/regular meals together. 

5 Reasons Why Your Church Should Have A Weekly Fellowship Meal

  1. Weekly fellowship meals allow congregants time to sit down and really get to know one another. There is something about breaking bread together that builds community. The Lord knew this. Scripture shows us that the Lord had many meals with those He wanted to have personal relationships with. 
  1. Fellowship meals allow the children to form unstructured relationships with one another. Children usually eat faster than the adults, and they love to go into the nursery or a kid-friendly area and just have free play together. 
  1. Fellowship meals encourage the older and younger to sit together and converse with one another. When youth sits with older adults, the dynamics change and each is more comfortable sharing with one another. 
  1. Weekly meals can meet the needs of those who are struggling financially, socially, or emotionally. Visitors regularly join in with us when invited to stay and eat. And guess what? They usually come back.
  1. This is a great area of service for those who don’t fit into any other service area. Some people have the gift of service and like to work behind the scenes. These meals allow for those who like to cook, wash dishes, vacuum, or clean tables to serve. Even the kids enjoy doing these adult tasks and take pride in serving. 

Small Church Fellowship Meals: It’s Easy To Get Started!

First, decide on a budget if needed. Will the church provide for the paper goods or any part of the meal budget? Or, will the attendees provide all the food and paper goods?

Second, start getting people excited about having a regular fellowship meal. Sharing your excitement will help others catch the vision of why this is important, and they can make others excited. Advertise, make announcements, share it on your website, create a social media post. 

Third, start with a meal “theme” and a start date. 

For example:

  • Pizza and salad
  • Sandwiches/chips
  • Meatloaf and mashed potatoes
  • Soups
  • International foods
  • Anything pasta
  • Casseroles
  • Tacos
  • Breakfast foods
  • Spaghetti & meatballs
  • Hamburgers & hot dogs (in the summer)

Of course, dessert goes with everything.

Fourth, create a food sign-up sheet. Write the date and the theme at the top of the sheet. Break down the food items that need to be brought. For example: casseroles, rolls, drinks, desserts, fruit. Then put numbers (1,2,3,4 … ) for as many food items that need to be brought. It’s better to put more spaces than less. A better idea of how much food that needs to be brought will get better over time. 

Decide if your church will buy the paper products; otherwise, put it on the sign-up.

Meal sign-up example: [DATE]

Casseroles
1.
2.
3.
4.		Rolls:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Salads:
1.
2.
3.
4.		Dessert:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Drinks:
1.
2.
3.
4.		Paper plates/cups/utensils:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Fifth, figure out the best way to have people sign up for food items. The sign-up list could be placed on your information table by the entry door, it could be advertised on your website, Facebook page, or sent out by email. Also, have someone pass it around before or after service.

Keep The Momentum Going For Your Next Church Potluck Meal

To keep the momentum going, have your next food sign-up sheet for the next week printed. Pass the sheet around the tables as everyone is eating or put it on the dessert table. Make sure to post the sheet on your church’s announcement page.

You will learn through trial and error how many spaces are needed under each main dish, side dish, dessert, drinks, etc., as time goes on. It’s okay to have more desserts or sides than your main meal as you’re learning. People are so happy to spend time together, they won’t gripe about eating an unbalanced meal every once in a while.

Bonus tip: Put out a jar with “Sunday meals” for people who can’t or don’t want to make a dish. This makes them feel part of the community effort. When you have enough money, order in pizza or something special.

Can’t have a regular meal? How about coffee and cookies? Games and pie? Appetizers? 

Aren’t we blessed to be in a small church where we can eat regularly together? It’s so much fun to sit by a different person each week and be able to spend time breaking bread together. 

Regular meals don’t just feed us physically, but they connect us emotionally and spiritually.

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