Right off the bat, we want to make it perfectly clear
that we're not trying to tempt anyone with the photo above. If you feel a sudden urge to rush out to the Arbor Cafe and get some pancakes, that's not our fault.
We're just offering one more way to help people feel welcome at the Vineyard - and what better way to do that than serve piping hot pancakes?
Throughout the summer, that's exactly what we'll be doing on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30.
"It's for people to come and have free pancakes, let their kids play out in the sandbox, and then go to church," said Tempe McFarlane, Vineyard Boise's evangelism director. "What we're encouraging the congregation to do is bring their friends, have some pancakes and hit the second worship service" at 11 a.m.
Tempe also is coordinating a group of volunteers who have been going door-to-door passing out invitations to residents in the church neighborhood. So far, they have distributed about 1,000 flyers. They plan to pass out 500 more by the end of the month.
People who are new to Vineyard Boise eat for free, as do church members who bring friends with them. For everyone else, the cost is $2.
The pancakes aren't intended to be some sort of sales gimmick, but rather a simple gesture of hospitality to welcome people to the church and help create an atmosphere of fellowship.
"It's just one more way we can say, 'We're glad you're here," Tempe said.
Kim and Gary Woods are coordinating the cooking and serving crew on Sunday mornings.
"They're the best. They're committed to serving people," Tempe said. "They even have their own built-in team because they have five kids."
The pancake breakfast is part of a broader effort to intentionally reach out to the community and invite people to the Vineyard. Another part of that effort is the new Hospitality Room, located behind the Book Cellar at the west end of the lobby.
Since the Hospitality Room opened in June, about 15 newcomers have stopped by each week, Tempe said. The room gives people who are new to Vineyard Boise an opportunity to learn more about the church.
After each service, visitors can watch a seven-minute video to get more acquainted with the ministries and vision of Vineyard Boise. They also receive a visitors' pack, which includes:
