Pastor Brian's Ruminations

Week 9: March 30, 2007

Dear fellow sojourners on the faith journey,

Last Saturday night Kay and I were invited to a friend’s 50th birthday party at the Medina Entertainment Center.  Now I’m not a dancer.  I have rhythm as a musician who loves all kinds of music, but that rhythm doesn’t translate very well into anything but my fingers and my brain (what’s that saying, something about having two left feet?).  I actually want to take lessons…it could be fun!

Well, at this point in reality anyway, I am not a dancer.  So we went to Medina for our friend.  We enjoyed celebrating with him and seeing a lot of people, including Dave Magnuson of Centennial whose big band was playing (what a smooth sound!), and Julie Elholm and husband Jim of Centennial (Julie is in our front office), who love dancing.  And Kay got me out there for 4 or 5 dances, which, truth be told, I enjoyed.

But what I want to tell you about was the greeter to the ballroom.  He was into it!  “Glad to have you here!  Have a good time!  Have you ever been here before?  It’s a great night, isn’t it?  We’re glad to have you with our family tonight!” 

And it was the same thing when we left: “Have a good night!  Thanks for coming!  Come back soon!  Here’s something that will tell you about what’s coming up here at Medina!  We appreciate your coming tonight!”  We felt like we were family with him. 

Wouldn’t it be something if guests to worship or Sunday School got a welcome like that?   I know that our bishop and our district superintendent have spoken about going to a number of worship settings around Minnesota where they have not come with an official role (like preaching) that day, and do you know what they have often found?  Often no one talks to them—or very few people!  I know that when I have a vacation Sunday and go to a different church, I feel included when someone genuinely welcomes me….

Who can you help to feel welcome in church this Sunday?  Or on Easter, when we have lots of guests?  “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me,” Jesus said. 

On the welcoming team with you,

Brian