The Most Wonderful Time of the Year to Be Friendly
One of the best things about “the most wonderful time of the year,” at least from my view, is the increased sense of friendliness in the air. Most people are more prone to be kind (unless you’re Scrooge or the Grinch … but wait, aren’t even their stories redemptive?)
Take, for example, the famous Christmas truce of WWI, which I consider one of the most remarkable moments in human history. Enemy armies suddenly, moved by the spirit of Christmas, remembered the other’s humanity. They joined in singing Christmas carols, exchanging gifts, and even playing a game of soccer. Soldiers who, just the day before were eager to shove a bayonet through one another’s throat, found themselves lifting their voices together in joy. It was stunningly wonderful.
And, you figure, if two enemies can do that, we can at least smile and say ‘hello’ to a stranger or two this season — perhaps, especially if that stranger is a guest at our church.
What do you normally think when you see someone on a Sunday morning you don’t know?
This is something I really want us to think about. What goes through our minds? What’s the posture of our hearts?
As I see it, there are at least three options. You might think …
“I don’t know that person, so I’m going to greet them.”
“I don’t know that person, but someone here has to have greeted them, so I won’t bother.”
“I don’t know that person and I don’t care if they’ve been greeted.”
Since only two of these options are actually Christian, I’ll focus there. The first is the ideal and I encourage each of our members to think this way, to start with wanting to move toward guests, leaning on God for all the help we need. It’s a heart matter first and foremost, and would that God give us hearts to welcome others as God in Christ has welcomed us, for the glory of God! (see Romans 15:7)
Now, the second option is trickier. The heart might be right, but follow-through is stifled. But by what exactly?
Well, it could be all kinds of things: maybe your young kids are tugging on you, or you have to get somewhere soon, or you're separated by the crowd, or maybe you’re hindered by what you should say. The person you think is “new” might be someone who’s been coming for months … “Hey, are you new to Cities?” “Uh, no, been here for a year.” Embarrassing!
To sort through this, I offer two tips:
Assuming you are moving to greet the person you don’t know …
TIP ONE: Greet with your name and open-ended questions.
You might say …
“Hey, my name is [your name]. I’ve not met you yet. What’s your name? … How long you been coming to Cities?” …
“Hey, my name is [your name]. I’ve seen you before but I don’t think we’ve met yet. What’s your name? … How long you been coming to Cities?” …
… possible follow-ups: “Do you live around here in the Twin Cities?” “Do you work in the Twin Cities?” “How did you hear about Cities?” “
“Hey, sorry, my kids are hungry, but I just want to say hey and I’m so glad you’re here!” (and you might say this semi-shouting as you’re walking in the opposite direction of the other person)
TIP TWO: Do for one guest what you wish you could do for all guests.
There is not one of us who alone is able to greet every single guest on Sunday morning. There are too many people and too many entry and exit points.
But, that said, each of us can do for one guest what we wish we could do for every guest. We’re not asking any person to greet every guest, but we all want to greet at least one person we don’t know every Sunday.
And if we all, as members of Cities Church, have that mentality, it will ensure that every guest is greeted and welcomed and knows that we are glad they’ve joined us and that we want them to come back and experience the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus.
It is the most wonderful time of the year to be friendly — and what better time and place than Sunday mornings at our worship services?
