June 12, 2026
Dear church,
Over the past three years, we have welcomed around 120 people into our community! This coming Sunday, we will welcome another fabulous group of new members. Our growth as a congregation is energizing and Spirit-filled. It also means that Grace is a different community than it was five years ago. And what I think is important to name is that this is true for all of us. If you’ve been a part of Grace for decades, you walk into church and see so many faces that are new to you. And if you’ve been part of Grace for a couple weeks, you definitely walk into church and see many faces that are new to you.
As we continue to grow and change, I think it’s important to name a few things about how we can continue to embrace this change, not just in words, but also in our actions. You do this so well, church! This is a reminder to keep doing it, to keep practicing genuine and expansive welcome, so that anyone who walks through our doors continues to receive the welcome of our community and the welcome of God.
Wear a name tag every Sunday - this is the best and easiest way to share with everyone around you your name and pronouns. (And if you are curious why we share pronouns, here’s a quick and helpful explanation.)
Be open to adjusting where you sit - I know this is a radical thing to say, but no one has a claim on any particular pew or seat in our sanctuary. It’s fine to have a place where you typically sit, but if someone shows up and sits there, that’s also fine! Making space and adjusting our typical behaviors is precisely what it means to welcome another.
Make sure to look around and introduce or re-introduce yourself to someone. This communicates that we are not just here to talk to those we already know; we are also here to engage and welcome those we haven’t met before.
Show compassion and support for wiggly kids and their parents. Parents often tell me how nervous they are to bring their kids to worship because they fear being disruptive and receiving the judgment of others. Offering encouragement, telling kids and parents that we’re glad they’re here, cheering parents on, even when their kids are disruptive…these messages of care and empathy make a world of difference.
Finally, think about what you could invite someone to be part of alongside you. If you’re coming to campfire worship (first one of the summer is June 24th!) or if you’re heading to church for the 4th of July parade, think about asking someone you don’t know as well to come with you. It makes it so much easier to show up for a new thing when you’re with someone else, rather than showing up alone.
Again, these are simply reminders to keep being the welcoming community that you are! Welcome is never something we achieve; it is something we regularly practice, just like everything else that matters in life (love, forgiveness, exercise, generosity…).
Thanks for living out God’s welcome in so many ways! I’m grateful for you!
Pastor Sarah
Every Friday, we send an email to the congregation and any others who would like to learn more about the Grace community. The last four Friday emails are posted below.