Please remember “Fort Langley Evangelical Free Church” – our LPD “Church” of the Week. 
 Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!

 
 Dear friends,


 So who doesn’t enjoy Lego?

 Lego is fun for all ages. It can also be frustrating to young children who might build a Lego toy, only to find it easily fall apart when used.


 The principle we soon learn is that the more points of connection (the “bumps” are officially called “studs”) between the Lego blocks, the stronger the bond between them.  
  

When we join a new Lego piece with another that has only one unclaimed stud, the connection can easily fail. Better to join two blocks with multiple studs available.

Pastor Leith Anderson draws an analogy from this “Lego Principle,” when it comes to welcoming new people in church. When a visitor comes, we often attempt to “connect” that person with someone already attending the church. In reality, while the visitor might have many social connection points that are unclaimed, the person already attending may already have all of their social connection points claimed. In reality then, either this “bond” will be very weak at best, or the person already connected will need to clear some social connection points in order to bond with the visitor. This rarely happens well.
  
 A better approach, suggests Anderson, is to connect visitors with other people who begin attending at the same time. A welcome luncheon or dessert info evening can be helpful to this end. The role of the church leadership is to provide a welcome setting and to connect new people with one another – a "cohort" of new people.

Yes, we do want to “mix it up” and to integrate, but you will find that friendships will often be with those who began attending at the same time.
  
 As you “Kick-off” this weekend, remember to introduce people to others who are new, as well as to current members. Who knows, they may become the cohort of 2017!
  
 May God bless you as you being a new and fresh season of ministry – we are praying for you and here to serve you!
  

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Please click this link to this week’s Five Minutes on Friday with the LPD – with more reflections on connecting this Sunday Five_Minutes_on_Friday_Sept_8_2017.pdf