The Visitor
The way in which we are attentive to ‘strangers’ in our place of worship
speaks volumes about who we follow and serve. As we gather and worship
week after week we naturally form bonds and friendships with those we
see each Sunday. What a gift it is to belong to a Christian community who
meets to sing, serve and pray together. We are blessed to have four worship
services every Sunday. Each worship service is like a small church within
our larger church community so naturally it can be difficult to recognize
visitors. However, it is a good practice to look for the opportunity to
introduce ourselves to anyone who we do not know. Regardless, of whether
we introduce ourselves to someone who, unknowingly to us, has been a
lifelong member of Good Shepherd or someone who is visiting for the first
time, we would have seized the opportunity to make a new friend in Christ,
what a blessing for both! More importantly, as we welcome our visitors and
introduce ourselves to “strangers,” we are living out our call as followers of
Jesus by embodying the church that Jesus intends for us to be.
As Christmas draws near we will gather in the church to hear the story of
the expectant mother Mary and Joseph who travel to Bethlehem going from
door to door looking for shelter, seeking a place to dwell. The very gift of God
incarnate was with them as they sought a place for the savior to be born.
Every visitor we receive into our place of worship is looking for a nurturing
place to dwell, to see Jesus more clearly and to belong to a worshiping
community who seeks to love and serve him.
As we welcome the visitor, the “stranger,” we are the face and hands of our Lord. When we acknowledge the visitor with a warm welcome and a genuine attentive spirit, we truly do welcome the “stranger” in from the cold by offering them a place to draw near to Christ. Graciously, as we reach out our hand to others Jesus himself blesses us saying; “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you … for I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matthew 25:35).
Advent is the perfect season to be attentive to the needs of others, a season of giving of ourselves and our resources to help strangers and friends alike have a joyful Christmas. It’s a time to be aware of the needs of others. What better way to share the gift we have so graciously received, our precious Lord, the Christ Child, than to reach out our hand in love and welcome the “stranger,” who is looking for the priceless gift of God’s love.
We can all be the hands and heart of Jesus by extending a greeting to all those we do not know. God will bless us with new friends and will expand our hearts and his church with one stranger, one seeker, one saint at a time.
When we look for the opportunity to serve others with a warm welcome, a hot cup of coffee, and an invitation to be nurtured into the household of faith, we are doing what we are gathered to do; to welcome the “stranger” is to welcome Christ himself. What a blessing it is then to welcome the “stranger.”
Keep alert, it’s Advent, Jesus is coming.
With Advent Blessings,
Lynn +
As Christmas draws near we will gather in the church to hear the story of
the expectant mother Mary and Joseph who travel to Bethlehem going from
door to door looking for shelter, seeking a place to dwell. The very gift of God
incarnate was with them as they sought a place for the savior to be born.
Every visitor we receive into our place of worship is looking for a nurturing
place to dwell, to see Jesus more clearly and to belong to a worshiping
community who seeks to love and serve him.As we welcome the visitor, the “stranger,” we are the face and hands of our Lord. When we acknowledge the visitor with a warm welcome and a genuine attentive spirit, we truly do welcome the “stranger” in from the cold by offering them a place to draw near to Christ. Graciously, as we reach out our hand to others Jesus himself blesses us saying; “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you … for I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matthew 25:35).
Advent is the perfect season to be attentive to the needs of others, a season of giving of ourselves and our resources to help strangers and friends alike have a joyful Christmas. It’s a time to be aware of the needs of others. What better way to share the gift we have so graciously received, our precious Lord, the Christ Child, than to reach out our hand in love and welcome the “stranger,” who is looking for the priceless gift of God’s love.
We can all be the hands and heart of Jesus by extending a greeting to all those we do not know. God will bless us with new friends and will expand our hearts and his church with one stranger, one seeker, one saint at a time.
When we look for the opportunity to serve others with a warm welcome, a hot cup of coffee, and an invitation to be nurtured into the household of faith, we are doing what we are gathered to do; to welcome the “stranger” is to welcome Christ himself. What a blessing it is then to welcome the “stranger.”
Keep alert, it’s Advent, Jesus is coming.
With Advent Blessings,
Lynn +
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