Welcoming

 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
— Romans 15.7

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Before the service

Welcomers should arrive no later than 9.40 am.

ID lanyards are provided to ensure that Welcomers are easily identifiable by name – please let a Churchwarden know if you do not have one.

The role of a Welcomer

Welcomers are required to take notice of anyone that they deem to be new and unfamiliar with St Mary’s and make their individual judgment of how to assist.

It may be appropriate to approach a newcomer in the pew, welcoming the individual and ensuring that they are suitably equipped to follow the service.

Welcomers should keep a watchful eye on newcomers during service to make sure that they are not encountering problems.

At the end of the service Welcomers should re-engage and invite individuals to join the congregation for refreshments in the Community Centre, where they may be introduced to others and continue to chat informally.

The Welcomer role is distinct from Stewards, and it is not necessary to engage with the distribution of things like service sheets or communion.

People planning life events

Baptisms

Where individuals have attended with the purpose of making arrangements for baptisms please introduce them to Lynne.

Weddings

Where individuals have attended with the purpose of making arrangements for weddings please introduce them to Shelagh.

Rota

You can always find the latest rota at whitkirkchurch.org.uk/rota.

Should you be unable to attend on your rota date please arrange to swap with another member of the team.

A Welcomer’s prayer

In Christ there are no longer strangers and aliens but all are one in him.

Grant us O Lord a heart to welcome strangers, to be attentive to them, respond sensitively to their needs, introduce them to others and so draw them into the household of faith built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

Amen

— Based on Ephesians 2.19-20