I will never forget the welcome extended to me by this church. I hope that you have felt welcome at WCC.
Sunday I am going to be speaking on the power of "welcome." Would you mind sharing your story with me about your experience at WCC? Were you welcomed? Were you not?
Hopefully you certainly feel welcome now.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, and you are graciously welcomed into this day, be sure to see the good.
5 comments:
My wife and I visited WCC with friends who are members last year. We were made to feel very welcome. Even though it was crowded several people went out of their way to welcome us. Jeff, you spotted us right a way. You welcomed and greeted us within a few minutes of entering the building. At the time we were looking for a church home and had visited 12+ different churches. Most of the churches were very welcoming. In a few of churches we were welcomed but it didn't feel sincere. Visitors can tell the difference. Yes, welcoming must be sincere, not forced or rehearsed. When visitors leave after the service they will long remember these feelings. WCC impressed us! Thanks.
My welcome was the power of the HOly Spirit I felt when I pulled in the parking lot. I left crying...and came back to the 11:00service. The Lord's presence through your message was the most welcoming that day and what kept bringing me back. I felt most welcomed in Sunday school and Bible study; especially Greg & Cindy, Glen & Lynetta Sellers and now so many others. I have found Sunday school very welcoming and gotta say Bill and Pam Carpenter have been very welcoming as I am getting to know them. I compare this to visiting a UMC in Frisco (Dallas) that just wow me with their welcome...too much for some I am sure, but I love their Texas hospitality, as I am blessed to be there almost monthly. Overall, I have observed a good happy medium of welcoming at WCC. Most people just want to be left alone and not ready to jump in too quickly. It always saddens me when people say they don't have time to get involved...somehow God blesses you with "time" when you spend your time with HIM. Sorry I type so much...no need to post.
One more thing...I don't think I actually said this... but I have felt VERY welcomed and I do love WCC!
I just wish we could do communion more often in the Worship Center.
Just thought I would take the opportunity to throw that out there as well! ~ Carol
Jeff, feeling welcome can sometimes have at least a couple of different definitions. When you came to WCC, you came already involved as its pastor.
Here's what we experienced as ordinary lay people and why "welcome" means different things. Although we received the customary smiles and handshakes in the worship servic at the welcome/shake hands time, we went to Woods Chapel maybe a year before we really experienced "welcome."
Here is why. It wasn't until after we attended the eight-week New Connections class that we decided to get involved in serving. Back then the most helpful part of the class was that the leader defined the four areas WCC encourages you to get involved in, to really have a meaningful church family experience: 1)Worship, 2)Social, 3)Study, and 4)Service. This is powerful and I wish they still included this in the New Connections Class, but the last time I was there it is not. I think it would be more helpful than explaining who the staff is or how to use WC Live. Those could be explained at the Connecting Center.
Anyway for the first year at WCC, we felt Welcome, but not Welcome. We'd pass by the old coffee area, as we were leaving church, and we'd see everyone having great fellowship, but we felt like outsiders. The Welcome feeling happened when we chose to get involved. That's the magic.
You do such a great job. Hope this helps.
We were warmly welcomed starting with the courteous folks in the green shirts at the entry door, at the sanctuary doors and later our experience at the Welcome Center with explanations and answers to our questions of the day. A sincere couple seated near us extended their hands and greetings and we have developed an ongoing close relationship with them. Finding friends that we did not even know were at WCC was an unexpected surprise. We are indeed Thankful that we came and stayed. Blessings.
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