Bulletin Cover letter: September 9, 2012
Dear Friends,
First UMC’s full Sunday School program begins today and many adult classes start this week. To those of you who are new to the congregation, welcome! You are invited to participate in faith formation activities, as well as the many on-going outreach and mission programs. Whether you like to sew, are handy with tools, enjoy connecting with people or have a heart to change lives, there are opportunities for you.
For those of you who have been at First UMC for some time and call this church your home, welcome! While it is natural and comfortable to greet and chat with friends this Sunday morning, remember that there are new friends you may meet this Sunday morning.
Donna Thompson, our Welcome Committee Chairperson, suggests this practice. Make sure that before or after the worship service you greet everyone within 10 feet of you. We’ll call that the “Rule of 10”. If there is someone you haven’t met before, extend the conversation beyond “Good Morning”. If the person you meet is new to the congregation, be sure to introduce that person to a church staff member.
If that isn’t challenge enough, Donna also suggests that congregation members continue to greet new faces when they leave the pew. Is there someone you haven’t met at coffee hour? Introduce yourself.
We have a large congregation. You may find that the people you meet have been attending a short time or a long while at First UMC. Whatever the case, we have the opportunity to offer God’s gracious welcome.
Blessings,
Pastor Sherry
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