“I was a stranger and you welcomed me”—it’s the unofficial motto of our congregation. We know—because we’ve experienced it ourselves—that being greeted with warmth and curiosity can help folks feel a sense of acceptance and belonging. We intend to welcome each person in the fullness of their particular identities and experiences into the life of our congregation.

To make our intentions of extravagant welcome real, we practice treating welcome as an active verb. Our ushers lead the way in this effort—though, really, all who are already at home in our congregation are called to this ministry. That can mean extending a smile and a greeting, offering to guide newcomers to where they need to go, supporting Coffee Hour as needed, and wearing name tags to make it easier for folks to learn each other’s names.