living the stillspeaking welcome no matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. you...

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Living the Living the Stillspeaking Stillspeaking Welcome Welcome No matter who you No matter who you are or where you are are or where you are on life’s journey, on life’s journey, ….. ….. You are welcome You are welcome here! here!

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Page 1: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Living the Living the Stillspeaking Stillspeaking

WelcomeWelcomeNo matter who you are No matter who you are

or where you are on or where you are on life’s journey,….. life’s journey,…..

You are welcome here!You are welcome here!

Page 2: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Ask YourselfAsk Yourself

Where and when do I feel welcomed?Where and when do I feel welcomed? What makes me feel welcomed?What makes me feel welcomed? Do I welcome strangers as I would Do I welcome strangers as I would

like to be welcomed if I were a like to be welcomed if I were a stanger?stanger?

What gifts of hospitality will I share What gifts of hospitality will I share with others?with others?

Page 3: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Stillspeaking WelcomeStillspeaking Welcome

Welcome and hospitality are central to Welcome and hospitality are central to the experience of the still speaking God’s the experience of the still speaking God’s message.message.

Hospitality in our lives and church is our Hospitality in our lives and church is our response to the God who welcomes and response to the God who welcomes and embraces each of us. embraces each of us.

Welcome is an act of worship, for in Welcome is an act of worship, for in welcoming one another, we welcome the welcoming one another, we welcome the divine ‘shekinah’, the holy presence of divine ‘shekinah’, the holy presence of God that is in each person.God that is in each person.

Page 4: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Jesus taught hospitality and Jesus taught hospitality and welcomewelcome

Welcome and hospitality were central to Jesus’ Welcome and hospitality were central to Jesus’ ministry and teaching. ministry and teaching.

Jesus welcomed and was welcomed by many Jesus welcomed and was welcomed by many who were not welcomed by others or by the who were not welcomed by others or by the religious community. religious community.

So central was welcome to Jesus’ teaching that So central was welcome to Jesus’ teaching that in a parable he warned that we would be in a parable he warned that we would be blessed or judged by our hospitality to blessed or judged by our hospitality to strangers. strangers.

““Come, youCome, you that are blessed…, inherit the that are blessed…, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was a foundation of the world; for I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew (Matthew 25)25)

Page 5: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Hosts and GuestsHosts and GuestsCreating a Culture of Creating a Culture of

HospitalityHospitality In our ministry of welcome and In our ministry of welcome and

hospitality we are called to be hosts, hospitality we are called to be hosts, sharing God’s welcome with those who sharing God’s welcome with those who come to worship with us. come to worship with us.

Hosts see those they welcome not as Hosts see those they welcome not as visitors but as guests, welcomed guests visitors but as guests, welcomed guests who bear God’s presence.who bear God’s presence.

Jesus said, “Whoever receives one Jesus said, “Whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives the whoever receives me receives the One who sent me.” One who sent me.” John 13:20 John 13:20

Page 6: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Greeters and UshersGreeters and Ushers

Greeters and Ushers are significant Greeters and Ushers are significant leaders in our welcome. leaders in our welcome.

It is important that greeters and ushers It is important that greeters and ushers focus on the visiting guests among us. focus on the visiting guests among us.

Most members will usually greet other Most members will usually greet other friends and members that they know. friends and members that they know.

The greeters and ushers role are to The greeters and ushers role are to make sure that new visiting guests are make sure that new visiting guests are recognized and welcomed to our recognized and welcomed to our congregation.congregation.

Page 7: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Welcome and Hospitality Welcome and Hospitality Check ListCheck List

Page 8: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Start with One ThingStart with One Thing

Get startedGet started Pray, Pray for your neighbors, guests and Pray, Pray for your neighbors, guests and

congregationcongregation This takes time, strategy and work.This takes time, strategy and work. Get a team of ‘bright-eyed’ people togetherGet a team of ‘bright-eyed’ people together Study and conversation with congregationStudy and conversation with congregation Takes support of congregational leadersTakes support of congregational leaders Just get started. Just get started. Do one thing. Start with strengthDo one thing. Start with strength

Page 9: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

God is still speaking!God is still speaking!

No matter who you No matter who you are or where you are are or where you are on life’s journey,….. on life’s journey,…..

You are welcome You are welcome here!here!

Page 10: Living the Stillspeaking Welcome No matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey,….. You are welcome here!

Thank You!Thank You! Thank you for Your Support of Thank you for Your Support of

Changing Lives: That’s Our Churches’ Wider Changing Lives: That’s Our Churches’ Wider MissionMission

Thank you for Your Support of Thank you for Your Support of Strengthen the Church Special OfferingStrengthen the Church Special Offering