A Welcome Tone

It was just another ordinary weekday for me at our church office. As I entered, there was Debbie, seated in her office but turned in my direction. She said, “Good morning!” with a most cheerful demeanor. Next I encountered our Associate Pastor Rich, who was already in his office too, and as I walked by, he gave a genuine “Hey! Good morning!” which just set me up for having a great attitude!

Don’t misunderstand, my day had not been going bad. In fact, it had been going pretty good! However, before I had even opened the door of my office, I had experienced something that established a great tone for me in my own office space! There’s something about a genuine, warm welcome that makes you ready for just about anything.

Along those same lines, have you ever visited a person’s house and just examined the surroundings? It’s interesting to me that most houses have a foyer in them. This is what fascinates me about a foyer—people seldom spend time in it! From an “efficiency” perspective, that foyer is wasted space. What’s more, it takes furniture to fill, time to clean, and energy to heat and cool. However, a foyer is not built for efficiency—it exists to set a tone. It is an environment of preparation to get you ready to enter into the living room, where life tends to occur and people will interact with one another.

This month I want to address the spiritual tone that we as a church can cultivate, much like a physical foyer is meant to facilitate. However, at Blue Ridge, that tone is not established by a room so much as it is by a people.

I believe that all of us long to connect with one another on Sunday mornings. Whether that be in the Sunday school classes or in the time of worship together with one another and with God, we can each cultivate that attitude that a foyer is designed to produce—that this body of believers is warm, inviting, loving, and accepting. This is what we want to present to all people, whether this is the first Sunday that they are present, or an individual has been coming here for two decades! It’s a demeanor and attitude that sets the tone for any person walking into our doors on a Sunday morning.

Many of you are aware of our Welcome Team ministry. We have about 30 people who are seeking to help to set a warm tone and welcome. We want to put our best foot forward in order to facilitate an inviting attitude for everyone that enters into our doors, whether they are members or first time guests! That attitude of receiving another person, welcoming them, and showing them the love of Christ is what our time together is meant to produce.

However, let’s not forget that we are ALL meant to greet and invite one another! The New Testament is covered with places that emphasize the word “greet.”

“Greet one another…” (Rom 16:16)

“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus…The brethren who are with me greet you.” (Phil. 4:21)

“All the Saints greet you.” (2 Cor. 13:13)

Sunday mornings are the only time that we might see many in our church, both newer as well as older and familiar faces. I want to encourage you to be that warm and inviting face to others. Don’t be intimidated into not greeting for fear of meeting someone who has been here for a while. Just let them know that you haven’t met them before, and take the initiative.

Perhaps you’re not familiar with who might be a new visitor though. Make a note: During the worship hour we’ll have a time for visitors to raise their hands to receive a welcome folder. Take a look around, find out who got a folder, and then seek to welcome them during the greeting time.

This fall, take the initiative. Seek to shake a hand, extend a greeting, give a welcome, and be the “foyer” of our church. Invite them into the “living room” of our body that they might experience a tone that will prepare them for a time of worship of the Savior who loves them and desires to fellowship with them in His home!