Worship Begins with Welcome

Worship Begins with Welcome

Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings.
Greet the friends there, each by name.
3 John 1:15

This week we give special thanks to our Greeters, those who welcome people into our sacred space for worship. Greeting is holy work that draws on the spiritual gift of attention. Greeters attend to the narthex and nave to keep them tidy, easy to navigate, and inviting, and they attend to people entering God’s house. Many have told me it was a greeter’s welcome that let them know Trinity would be their spiritual home.

Trinity used to have an Ushers Guild, mostly men, with lots of formality and an annual breakfast. We don’t need all that anymore. We need ministers of welcome whether handing out programs or wishing visitors the Peace of the Lord. This week, Meg Gardner blesses us with a word of encouragement to this ministry.

In peace,

A Word of Encouragement
By Meg Gardner

I came to start greeting at Trinity on a temporary basis. Somebody knew I had customer service in my repertoire and a dash of concierge in my soul. It’s not essential to be a people-pleaser, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

New greeters may worry about knowing the rules or fret about remembering names, but all of that is only icing on the cake of welcoming people to Trinity. The only requirements are openness and knowing the location of the bathrooms. People who have been greeters and ushers will show you the other ropes with extraordinary kindness. Greeting is also a great opportunity for anyone who struggles to sit still for the whole service.

There are many little things to do if you want to participate in a small way. Any time you welcome a new face, you are already working as a greeter. Greeters often speak to folks who may not speak to anyone else during their visit. Listening with love creates reassurance for our most tentative travelers. You don’t have to say a lot and you don’t have to sell Trinity. Trinity sells itself.