Welcoming and Being Welcomed

The Fruitland Christian Reformed Church is a welcoming congregation. I've been on the receiving end of their welcome and I have watched them welcome visitors on Sunday mornings. The people of the congregation do welcoming well, introducing newcomers to others, explaining how we do things, making sure that they can navigate our facilities. Being welcoming is important to any congregation wanting to get to know its community and have an impact outside of its walls.

How are we at being welcomed though?

This Sunday we will focus on Jesus words in Matthew 10:40-42. A first, quick reading, may leave the impression that Jesus is talking about our calling to be welcoming, but after a closer look, we come to realize that he is really talking about accepting the welcome of others, particularly the welcome of those we are sharing the gospel with.

Somehow, accepting welcome, hospitality, a cup of cold water, from others is more difficult than getting into welcome mode toward others. There is a different posture involved, a different position on the power scale, and yet, Jesus seems to be saying that part of the job of being a disciple is to make ourselves open to being welcomed.

Join us this week as we worship. We'll welcome you warmly as we think about how to be better at being welcomed.