You Are Welcome

It was good to be back at work, church, today. As it was the fifth Sunday of the month I did not preach, but we had some amazing music for our Pies and Praise. I’m looking forward to kicking off our short series on Jonah next Sunday, but before that we have Bible Study on Monday in the book of Proverbs and Wednesday night in the book of Revelation.

George Rousseau, who was a our lay reader and worship leader this morning, read this beautifully amazing welcome during worship this morning. I hope that we at the First Congregational Church of Belding, United Church of Christ, can embody this example of God’s divine love for all.

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here: If you are young or old, you are welcome If you have brown skin, black skin, white skin, or any color of skin, you are welcome If you are married or single, you are welcome If you are gay or straight, you are welcome If you are transgender, you are welcome If you are a man or a woman, you are welcome If you cannot hear or see, you are welcome If you are sick or well, you are welcome If you are happy or sad, you are welcome If you are rich or poor, powerful or weak, you are welcome If you believe in God some of the time or none of the time or all of the time, you are welcome You are welcome here Come with your gifts, your pain, your hope, your fears Come with the traditions that have helped you and hurt you Come with your experiences that have made you and broken you Come with a mind, ready to engage, and a heart, open to discern Come and listen for the Sacred Spirit that calls you to love your neighbor wholeheartedly, seek justice, create peace and practice compassion You are welcome here!

• Adapted from a welcome by Gordon Brown, published in Shaping Sanctuary
• Photo from Pexels.com