Welcome to First

So I've just decided to do three posts to cover our weekend! The rest of our weekend was pretty much as wonderful as the first part! Sunday morning's church service was not quiet as great as the premiere of our new service last week. We've got some things to work on still but overall it was pretty good! I wrote the following and read it for our opening welcome/prayer. I really do mean every word I said and truly LOVE our church. We have the most amazing people to work with and great pastors that care so much about us as individuals. If you're looking for a church in Charlotte, come check out our new contemporary service. I know 8:45 is EARLY but it gets your day started on the right foot and when you are done with church you can grab breakfast and still have your entire Sunday :)

Welcome

When first asked to welcome you to First Church, I thought: Ok. I can do this. I greet kids when they enter my Sunday School class, I greet members in the parking deck, in the narthex, I welcome our neighbors at room in the inn. I’ve got this. Welcome to First Church!

Then I thought about it a little more. I don’t want to just welcome you. I want to WELCOME you. I want you to feel the same comfort, friendliness, and acceptance that I do when I walk through these doors.

After the service last week, my friend Paige said to me, It was so cool to see you and Casey standing up there together giving communion. Why is that cool? You see Casey was born and raised Catholic, went to Catholic school his whole life and ended up feeling welcome here. I… well… I’ll show you a bit of my background.

(Cue slide collage)

My dad is Jewish, my Grandmother was Catholic, my mom was raised Lutheran, I went to an evangelic Presbyterian church as a child, I married a Southern Baptist. When it comes to religion, where in the world do I fit in?

I fit in at First Church. You fit in at First Church. We fit in at First Church.  They welcomed me. They welcome diversity. They welcome you with open hearts and open minds. They welcome you, no matter where you are in your walk with Christ. They welcome you to explore, to learn, to grow in God’s grace. They do not judge, they welcome you in Christ’s love.  I know firsthand that church can be an uncomfortable place to those that don’t feel welcome. What if I do something wrong? What if I’m not wearing the right thing? What if I don’t know the Lord’s Prayer? When do I stand? When do I sing? What do I respond?  What do I do when they call me up to take communion? I’ve been there. I get it. And I’ve learned. It doesn’t matter here at First. We welcome you just the way you are!     

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly father, I pray that you continue to make First Church a place that welcomes all people of all walks of life. I pray that Connect, this service, will be an instrument to reach those that are uncomfortable in church and provide them with the comfort of Jesus.  I pray that everyone that walks through the doors at First feels loved, welcomed, and accepted. I pray that First church provides a place of comfort when the outside world can’t. I pray that all of these people feel welcome in this place.