A drop in visit to an activity even for a short while conveys active interest and support. These have become the new pastoral care strategy in many congregations. By prior arrangement with leaders, the pastor can spend an evening without being overly intrusive or distracting. Some pastors have developed a special knack for visiting their people at their place of study or employment. A lunch time at the office, plant or college gives the pastor a glimpse of the responsibilities being carried by lay people in the work place.
Nothing goes down quite as well as some entertaining in the manse.
This is not for everybody and can be difficult with small families. Some pastoral couples run open door manses while others choose to preserve their privacy. Both views have to be respected. A development of more recent years is the breakfast meeting. Not satisfied with late nights only, some devious mind has produced a fresh way of shortening sleep.