Eclipse events will, quite rightly, vary largely from church to church and circuit to circuit based on location, resources, experience, existing relationships and target audience. Whatever your event looks like, we would encourage you to ensure the following are all present and considered:
Invitation, welcome and hospitality
While the Day of Outreach is an opportunity for intentional, gentle faith-sharing, we know we do not control outcomes – we leave those up to God. However, we can ensure people know they are loved, accepted and welcomed in the space – regardless of who they are and what they believe. We do this through bold invitation and through strong welcome and hospitality.
Make your event intentionally inclusive, intergenerational and safe.
Awe, wonder, transcendence
Part of the reason for choosing the eclipse as an outreach opportunity is because moments of awe and wonder are times when people’s openness to something beyond themselves – to something divine – might be elevated.
This wonder should be fairly ‘baked-in’ since the spectacle of the eclipse itself should be awe-inspiring, but the way a space is set up, framed and contextualised can have a big effect on how people will engage.
This is not about artificially manufacturing an experience but removing barriers to people connecting with something beyond themselves, being curious about their experience, and open to sharing something about your own.
Be sure to think about how you are facilitating a meaningful shared experience for people.
Meaningful conversations
Not every conversation at the event has to lead to a discussion about faith, but with a little bit of intentionality around getting beyond small talk, opportunities for sharing faith become more likely.
Crucially, we want to engage people in dialogue as partners – being curious in what other people have to say and listening as much as we talk.
Intentionally enable meaningful conversations at your event – whether through facilitated activities or discussion questions, or through equipping volunteers to be brave and open in their conversations.
Good news shared
Facilitating a profound experience for people and making people feel loved and welcomed are things worthy of celebration. While God is the primary evangelist drawing people towards him independently of our efforts, we also have a role to play in partnering with the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known, and this is a chance to do that in an authentic way.
Whether from the front through a short reflection or in conversations, something of the difference Jesus makes for individuals and for the world should be accessibly shared and an invitation to learn more offered.
Follow-up
For the Day of Outreach to be truly worthwhile, meaningful interactions with people at the event should have the opportunity to go further.
Separate guidance will also be available on the Day of Outreach webpage with suggestions for how to reflect, listen and learn from your event and plan for future outreach.
During planning, think about what in your regular church life you can make links with, and whether there is anything you might want to begin on the back of the Day of Outreach (such as an On the Way course).