tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post1399980885662802358..comments2024-03-23T18:50:32.902-04:00Comments on Telling Secrets: "Good Morning Christians!"Elizabeth Kaetonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06787552280232329081noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-79882201199956690222011-08-23T10:35:21.420-04:002011-08-23T10:35:21.420-04:00Mark - do let us know what happens.Mark - do let us know what happens.Elizabeth Kaetonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787552280232329081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-64720988684900482422011-08-23T08:29:13.172-04:002011-08-23T08:29:13.172-04:00Thanks, Elizabeth. I was feeling "iffy" ...Thanks, Elizabeth. I was feeling "iffy" about "Church," too. I like the idea of including a warm welcome to visitors at the beginning (I'd been doing a general "welcome" at the beginning and the visitor welcome mostly at announcements with a longer invite to check us out). So, come Sunday, I'll give it a try. Again, the response from those present was truly remarkable.<br /><br />Mark KozielecAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-54365252945529087312011-08-22T09:35:45.151-04:002011-08-22T09:35:45.151-04:00I don't know, Mark. I mean, doesn't the sa...I don't know, Mark. I mean, doesn't the same issue apply? If they are visitors from another faith tradition, they aren't members of the "church" either. <br /><br />That being said, I think your point is well made. I think I might alter it slightly with "Good morning, Christians" and then add "And a warm welcome to our visitors".Elizabeth Kaetonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787552280232329081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-13382664791225039092011-08-22T07:59:35.975-04:002011-08-22T07:59:35.975-04:00I tried this on Sunday morning: an emphatic "...I tried this on Sunday morning: an emphatic "Good morning, Christians!" was met with an equally emphatic "Good morning!" response. I was a bit taken aback at the forcefullness of the response. <br /><br />After the service someone asked: "What if there are non-Christians present? How welcoming is this greeting?" We do get visitors from other faiths and the question made me remember the Jewish spouse who attended church regularly at my field ed.<br /><br />I've been thinking (and sometimes preaching) over the last few years that we do need to reclaim our "Christian" identity--especially from those who use it to exclude or denigrate others. But the question of welcome raised by one parishioner continues to tug at me. Maybe borrowing Bishop Harris' "Good morning, Church" might be an answer. And yet, there is that Christian identity piece...<br /><br />Mark KozielecAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-56839416877057800482011-08-17T22:00:30.003-04:002011-08-17T22:00:30.003-04:00Susankay - That's a GREAT story. I really thin...Susankay - That's a GREAT story. I really think this could make a difference - in how we see ourselves and how others see us.Elizabeth Kaetonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787552280232329081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-23083436191089357972011-08-17T21:57:04.970-04:002011-08-17T21:57:04.970-04:00Suzanne - I think it absolutely would. I used this...Suzanne - I think it absolutely would. I used this with a Vestry group the other night, and it absolutely did. I'll be interested to know what you think.Elizabeth Kaetonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787552280232329081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-70736335240327677502011-08-17T20:15:23.130-04:002011-08-17T20:15:23.130-04:00Regarding Jack's expectations: I remember dur...Regarding Jack's expectations: I remember during the busing time in Boston when various companies in Boston adopted various schools to help somehow. The company for which I worked sent me and a fellow member of an efficiency team out to Boston English High. We were dressed in our usual "dress up" work clothes. Principal and staff at English wore jeans and t-shirts or whatever. Bob and I were standing near the top of an escalator with the principal when a kid came off the escalator and crashed into us. He snarled at the t-shirt clad principal: "watch where you are motha f***er" and turned to Bob and said "sorry, sir"susankayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15513759507628166408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373297.post-31765585198688782882011-08-17T19:21:33.418-04:002011-08-17T19:21:33.418-04:00I just forwarded your post to my rector with the s...I just forwarded your post to my rector with the suggestion of trying this. I think it would set a different tone for worship.suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07680282906301838319noreply@blogger.com