A Welcoming Community

It has been so encouraging to see so many new faces attending Grace lately and to welcome some of those as new members. God adds to His church. We are grateful.
I am so thankful that Grace is a welcoming church; grateful for this cultural value. Of course, our desire to be a welcoming community of believers is birthed by and reflects God’s welcoming posture toward us.

  - He pursued us when we were His enemies (Rom. 5:10).
  - He drew us to Himself (Jn. 6:44).
  - Through His love and mercy saved us from our sins (Eph. 2:4-5).
  - Jesus illustrates the Father’s welcoming heart toward His children in the parable of the prodigal son (Jn. 15:11-32).
  - He demonstrates His welcoming heart by dining with tax collectors and sinners (Mk. 2:15).
  - He invites us to come to Him, learn from Him, and find rest for our souls (Matt. 11:28-30).
  - Whoever comes to Him, He will never cast out (Jn. 6:37).
  - He continues to knock at our door wanting us to have fellowship with Him (Rev. 3:20).
  - And in the end, He will come and get us to always be with Him where He is (Jn. 14:3).

The following are some of the common evidences of a welcoming value I see at Grace:

  - smiling faces, warm greetings, and hot coffee for arriving worshipers on Sunday mornings
  - multiple church members engaging in conversations with visitors
  - invitations to lunch or Shepherding Group being extended
  - pockets of conversations in the halls on Wednesdays and Sundays as people reconnect and even pray for each other
  - invitations to visitors to men’s or women’s events or youth or college meetings and inclusion and engagement with those who attend
  - younger visitors being welcomed at Pioneer Clubs and Sunday School
  - rides being given to international students

Thank you for reflecting the welcoming heart of God! May we at Grace continue and grow in this posture toward those He brings our way and across our path.

~~ Tim Thomassian