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Word of the Week

Word of the Week: Stranger

Hello Gracians. I was away from GCC preaching at a church which invited Caron and I to do a marriage seminar. People were marvelous, but Sunday I got to experience what it was to be a stranger. They sang many of the same songs, used the same creed we often use, prayed very good prayers. But in spite of the fact that I knew a number of the people from before the conference, there were awkward moments that I felt like a stranger. I’m more extroverted than many, but I felt like a visitor and wanted to give full attention to reading the bulletin (always a sure sign of a newer person at church, by the way).

It is weird and awkward sometimes to greet people you THINK are new. Sometimes you find out they have been here since the beginning. I was reminded what it means to be warmly greeted and welcomed by people who are not formally assigned to do so! Someone from GCC said that they look for one person they don’t recognize. This person isn’t an extrovert either. I appreciate the sacrifice that man makes every Sunday - getting out of his own comfort zone to make folks feel welcome.

It takes a while before a new church feels like “my church.” We can all play a part in helping people along that process. Thanks to those of you who do make that effort to make people feel at ease, whether you are on the First Impressions team or not!

In Him,

Don

 

Don Ward

Senior Pastor

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