2 minute read
The Cookie Ministry: Offering a Warm Welcome to All Who Come to Our Church
Three years ago, when Fr. Brian O’Brien cracked a joke about cookies, he probably had no idea that an entire ministry would be born from it. That joke led to an idea, and soon it was off the ground and running — the Cookie Ministry was created. The church was brand new at the time and visitors were coming in for tours. A big plate of homemade cookies was just the thing to extend a warm invitation.
“It’s one more way to make people feel welcome,” says Rhonda Coon, the organizer of the Cookie Ministry.
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What began with around 10 bakers has grown to about 44 active bakers in three short years. The Cookie Ministry is perfect for anyone with a busy schedule. The ministry does not have regular meetings. Instead, Rhonda organizes a schedule every three months and sends it out to her volunteer bakers. All communication is done over email or phone. Periodically, Rhonda sends out reminders to the scheduled bakers. Each baker makes four dozen cookies — enough for about two days — and drops them off at the Welcome Center. Those cookies are offered to anyone who stops in at the parish office. The only time you won’t find cookies in the Welcome Center is during the season of Lent, which is a time of sacrifice.
For the volunteers who bake for the Cookie Ministry, scheduling is flexible. If you need to take a break for some reason, such as having a baby, it’s easy to be taken out of the rotation until you are ready to start baking again. Some volunteers step up and serve as a backup if there is a need.
Now, anyone who visits the Welcome Center is greeted by a plate of delicious cookies. This personal touch is just one small way to show our community that they are valued and cared for. Often, those visitors aren’t Catholic or they might be considering becoming Catholic.
“The most important part of evangelization to me is that people feel welcomed and included,” Rhonda says.
Cookies might seem like a small thing, but Rhonda and the volunteers who bake hope that those cookies will be one piece of the puzzle that brings people home to the church. While the cookies are a momentary thing, the welcome of the Church is lasting.
“They have a place,” Rhonda says. “They’re not outsiders, they’re a part of the community, and they’re welcome.”
