For years I’ve served on my church’s Hospitality Committee as a greeter. One Sunday a month from 9:00
to 9:30 I stand by a door and welcome people coming to the 9:30 worship service. I show up, smile, and say,
“Welcome.”
At first I thought that because it wasn’t a big responsibility when compared to other job commitments that
this meant it wasn’t important either. How wrong I was.
First, this opportunity has been a tremendous blessing to my Christian education. I’ve met people who more than likely our paths would have never crossed. We greet as teams, so I’ve been paired with children who participate in the various youth activities and with elderly members of our congregation, as well as every age in between. I’ve co-greeted with Boy Scouts, teens, individuals from our mission teams, and people from our Hispanic ministry. And of course, I meet the people I’m there to greet on their way to worship. I’ve been introduced to families with young children. How much fun I’ve had shaking little hands and opening doors for arms filled with baby carriers and toddlers. I’ve reconnected with friends I haven’t seen in a while. I’ve also met people who are coming for the first time to our church, or in some cases people who have never been to any church ever. I consider it a privilege and an honor to be the first face these worshipers see when they enter God’s house. From conversations with my greeting partners and the people arriving for worship I’ve learned about countless ways we can serve and witness as Christians with our own individual talents.
Second, God has used me as a vessel to share some of these experiences in my writings. Five of my pieces about greeting experiences have appeared in eight publications with an estimated combined circulation of 765,000. I mention this not to pat myself on the back, but to illustrate how what I thought was such a small job confined to one doorway in one church in one community turned out to be way so much more by touching people I could have never dreamed of. Now, if this were the end of the story, what a great story it would be. Imagine my surprise when about six months ago, God revealed to me that I was only doing half my job!
You see, while I am welcoming people into the 9:30 service, during this same time frame the 8:00 service worshipers are filing out of those same doors. For the most part, I’ve been ignoring these individuals. Oh, I smile and give a limp wave as they pass by, but that exchange pales in comparison to the wide, toothy grin and “Welcome to church!” I extend to those entering. I’ve come to understand that whatever I say to those leaving may the last words in a Christian environment they will hear for the rest of the week because for some people church is a once-a-week activity. In a way the world outside the church is the playing field in the game of life, with Sunday worship the halftime locker room inspirational message. When people enter, they often look drained and exhausted by the constant pounding of just trying to accomplish their “goals” each week. We become recharged as we listen to our pastors speak, join our choir in exuberant song, and commune in brotherhood with fellow believers in Christ. As people leave, I often see brighter faces, lighter steps, and overall re-energized spirits. In short, they are ready to face the challenges and obstacles that lay before them. Through this experience I’ve come to understand that people need to be greeted and encouraged as they reenter this turbulent, outside world.
Now when I take my place to welcome people arriving, I remember to turn to the eight o’clock worshipers as they leave. With my cheeriest voice, I say:
