Do you remember the first time you worshiped at Resurrection?  I do.  Maybe I was different (probably because I was the new pastor), because I had a “tour guide” (who was the late, sainted Dick Hellbaum!).  Most first time guests at Resurrection are not so lucky – they do not have a “tour guide.”  Let’s be honest – there are “hesitations” when one is a visitor: where to sit, what the bulletin is and does, the location of the restrooms, the location of the nursery, “how do I get my children in a Sunday School class,” the Holy Communion distribution procedure, where is the Fellowship Hall with the promised coffee and goodies, or … or … or  (any number of things!).

When people are asked WHY they came back to Resurrection, they almost always say something like this: “I had a good experience!  I wanted to come back, and I did!”  Some do return, and are truly a blessing of the Lord.  But a goodly number don’t return!  WHY?  The two most common complaints is that (1) they were left standing BY THEMSELVES in the Fellowship Hall while everyone visited with others, and (2) no one spoke to them before, during or after the worship services.

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE OUR VISITORS – OUR CHURCH GUESTS – FEEL COMFORTABLE?  Begin with simple steps: Make eye contact.  Smile!  Shake their hands.  Ask their names.  If you wind up introducing yourself to a long-term member, so what!!  You might be making a long-term friend!  Practice WII (pronounced “we”).  Be genuine in WELCOMING THEM – INVITE THEM TO THE FELLOWSHIP HOUR AND TO THE SUN-DAY EDUCATION HOUR – and INTRODUCE THEM TO THOSE AROUND YOU. 

Take the initiative, because we shouldn’t expect our guests to do that!  They have taken the initiative to come and worship with us.
Some guests will be confused by our worship.  Why not sit next to them and guide them through the liturgy.  While we try to be user friendly, we slip more than we like!

NEVER FORGET: YOU are a GREETER, TOO!  The Lord may be using YOU in bringing the Good News of Jesus to someone!  And you just might make a new friend!