Some other time I’ll share the story of Dean King at Decatur First Christian Church in Georgia, but let me say that one of the reasons I became a member of that church and the Disciples of Christ denomination is because of Dean’s welcome and greeting. I can’t stress how important greeters actually are. Indeed, with an effective parking lot greeting team, any lack of signage and parking issues actually become mute (during worship hours), since a guest couldn’t get lost because there would always be a greeter in sight. If you have outdoor greeters, and parking lot greeters specifically, the congregation’s hospitality truly begins as a guest comes out of their vehicle. Well, it really begins when a guest goes to your website to find out where you are and what time your services are, but that’s a different post for a different time. If you’re going to be open and welcome to guests, you might want to consider the following. The 50 th celebration Mass took place on Saturday, October 11, 2014.I was working on a worship evaluation and thought that I’d share words and recommendations about a church’s welcome. Brenner and Bia say, and as any observer can see – they are a family. They are more than a community – as both Sr. Berard was built in 1964 and is now the main church, with Sawmill as a mission.ĭespite the population movements and fifty years, the people of Navajo and Sawmill are as close as ever. After just five years, the mill was moved to Navajo, and most of the people went with it. Francis church was built to serve the people there in 1953. The town was established and named after a local lumber mill which functioned as the main economy for the town, and St. Sawmill was at one point the main parish. The people surprised him with a cake after the Mass. And all the Sisters and the Fathers that come through here, even the Deacons, to teach us our Faith – I’m grateful for them.” The anniversary of the church also happened to be Bishop Wall’s birthday. “Even our elderly, their kids, they’re all here. “When we all come together like this, it works,” Bia says, in between handing out slices of cake. She spends the evening talking and laughing with people as she stands behind the food line serving dinner, and eventually divides a giant cake into smaller pieces, making sure there is enough for everyone. With Bia, too, it’s tough to grab a few moments. Eventually she became a certified religious instructor, and describes how she enjoys teaching her faith to her people. Francis church for most of her life, she volunteers at events for both churches throughout the year. Raised in Sawmill, AZ and a member of St. Rita Bia is one of those “people of God” Sr. “You know, I get as much from them as they get from me – these are people of God.” “They’re so open and caring, so just being with them, I feel very close to all of them,” she says. She knows their names, their personalities, their backgrounds, and happily speaks with each group before moving on. It’s difficult to take a spare moment to talk to her during the dinner after the Mass – she spends most of the evening moving among the tables, stopping to speak to each family. Brenner has lived at Navajo for three years, and cares for the people there as if they were her own family. Brenner and Magdalena oversee the religious instruction of the parishioners and other church affairs. Defiance, AZ, but his duties have also included saying Mass at St. Schneider is the pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament parish in Ft. Gilbert Schneider declared to the congregation.įr. “It is our great prayer and hope that this event, this beautiful celebration, will truly be a time of growth and renewal for our people and our parish,” Fr. Maynard Shurley, OFM, blesses the congregation before Mass. Maria Magdalena, SC – bustled about making sure that the food for the dinner after Mass was properly prepared and presented that the ushers had the right amount of baskets and that everyone had a seat for Mass.īr. Maynard Shurley, OFM, blessed the church and the congregation before the Mass began, using Navajo incense. Two Native American deacons also assisted at the Mass.īr. Francis in Sawmill gathered together to attend the Mass celebrated by Bishop Wall and concelebrated by several Franciscan priests including Fr. Berard Parish at Navajo, NM is just large enough to seat a regular Sunday crowd, but people were packed shoulder-to-shoulder for the very special Mass in honor of the church’s 50 th anniversary.įamilies from both St.
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