Member Engagement and Connection

Contact

Nicolle Singer
nsinger@cedarlane.org
(301) 493-8300 ext. 205 

The Membership Engagement and Connection (MEC) Ministry Team, along with the membership coordinator, welcome newcomers and help them find their way to membership and a sense of belonging at Cedar Lane.  They encourage newcomers to participate in a small group or social events where they can get to know people informally. Then, along with the Ministry Engagement Coordinator, the team helps guide members toward activities and programs that speak to their interests and helps them connect with and feel part of the congregation.  

The team members participate in the monthly newcomer/visitor circles and in new member recognition ceremonies and receptions. The team also helps longer term members get to know new members via obtaining and posting their bios and photos in the eNews. Recently the team has begun to organize dinner groups for both new and longer term members.

Team members each follow, or mentor, a few new members at a time to help support them in becoming part of the community. Given the number of new members over this past year, we are now looking to expand the mentorship program to other members of the congregation.

Engagement Opportunities

• Attend one of the monthly Newcomer Circles, along with a few other longer-term members, and meet and answer newcomer questions.

• Attend a Welcome Wednesday potluck, search out faces you don’t know. If they are new to Cedar Lane, get to know them and introduce them to others.

• Become a mentor to one or a few new members. (Formal mentor guides are being developed.)

• Become a member of the team, New members are critical to learning what works well in the process of welcoming and engaging new members. The team meets monthly via zoom.