Greetings in Church – As general rule greetings and salutations as people come to church services are crucial – Tips are 1) Be Welcoming 2) Treat as Family 3) Be Enthusiastic (God Breathed) (Contagious) 4) Shake Hands, Hug whatever is appropriate. 6) Be Encouraging 8) Break the Ice 9) Uplifting song, 10) Greet at Entrance
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Greetings in Church and Welcome 5 Ways to Welcome Visitors to your Congregation / Ways to Greet a Church Congregation
Church Welcome: Most churches, if not all, make it a point to greet their congregation before the Sunday service begins. Greeting the members of your congregation shows that you value their presence and you are happy to see them every Sunday. To make their congregations feel welcome, church leaders are looking for the best way to greet them. Ways to Greet a Church Congregation – Church Greetings and Welcome
Before we look at 5 ways to greet a church congregation, let us look at why the greeting is important.
1) To Make the Congregation Feel at Home. (Greetings)
People are looking for a home church and when they find one that makes them feel welcome, they are bound to stay and become members. By looking for interesting ways to greet your congregation, you are letting them know that they are valuable to you, enough to warrant a special greeting.
- Opening the Outer Doors and Holding it open for them when they enter. I visited one congregation and there at the Doors – seemingly waiting on us was an Older Grandfather, with his young Grandaughter, she might have been 7 or 8 years old. Immediately I felt welcomed and I immediately admired what this grandfather was teaching his granddaughter. I wanted to stand beside him with one of my granddaughters and help him.
2) Welcome Visitors. Church Greetings and Salutations (Church Welcome)
Within the congregation are first-time visitors who have come to share the Word of God with you. When you greet them, you show that you are grateful they chose to come to your church that Sunday. Visitors end up being church members if they are happy with the church and how it treats its members.
Welcoming Spirit is Contagious
Those doing the ushering, or even doing the preaching, know who the visitors are. This desire to welcome and encourage those who do not know the lord is contagious.
It is a powerful thing to walk into a family of believers that all are focused on welcoming new visitors – this starts from the leaders and the spreads to everyone’s heart. It says you are important – They are important to God
What is Vision Casting – Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish
Check this vision – I would follow this – Greg Gaines
3) Break the Ice.
When people come to church on Sunday, they are coming with the issues that trouble them every day. By greeting them, and in style, you make them forget their troubles momentarily and prepare their hearts to receive God’s Word and comfort. They will feel lighter and able to worship God during the service.
They are also with a group of people they do not know, they may be shy or reserved. Unfamiliar surroundings. It Probably took a lot of courage and desire to venture into strange situations – help them feel at Ease.
5 Ways to Greet a Church Congregation
1) A Simple Speech / Welcome / Glad You are Here
One way to greet your church congregation is by using a simple speech. This is used by many churches, especially those that are conservative. It involves speaking welcoming words to the congregation and letting them know you are happy to see them.
You can give them a brief on the day’s sermon and what they will learn. This whets their appetite for God’s Word that Sunday. Write the speech on a piece of paper to make sure you don’t forget what you want to say. Make sure your greeting includes the visitors who will be in your midst so that they too will feel welcome to your church.
You can begin by welcoming them – Generally, it is better to let them be as anonymous as possible. I have seen congregations do this very effectively. inexpensively
- Gifts of a Music CD of some of the Congregations Worship
- Gift of a Bible
- Gifts of an Inspirational Book
- Lesson Outline for the Morning / Program / Bulletin
- The prayer request that they can get friends and family added to the family’s prayer list.
Here are five common greetings often heard on Sunday mornings in church:
- “Good morning, brothers and sisters!”
- “Blessed Sunday to you all!”
- “Happy Sunday, everyone!”
- “Peace be with you on this beautiful morning.”
- “Welcome to worship, may you find joy in the Lord’s presence today.”
2) An Uplifting Welcoming Song
Some churches have become innovative and have composed a greeting song which the worship team sings every Sunday. Others reserve the song to welcome their first-time visitors. A song is a creative way to greet your congregation and is uplifting.
You can come up with a song that the entire congregation can sing as they welcome the people sitting next to them. Make the song as fun as possible so that it can lighten everyone’s mood in the church. Ask you, worship team, to come up with a fun song that every person in the congregation will love to sing along.
3) A Church Family / Joke or Funny Story
As churches look for how to enhance their greeting session, they stumble upon funny ideas that leave their congregations in stitches. One way you can have a fun greeting session is to include a joke or funny story.
If you have comedians in the church, they can help you with this type of greeting. Share a joke or funny story and give your audience enough time to laugh and enjoy it. Aim for those jokes or stories where the members of your congregations can see themselves in the story. You can also choose those that relate to the sermon of the day. This will give the congregation something to think about when they get home.
4) Greet Each Person at the Entrance
Another way to greet your church congregation is for the pastors and other church leaders to stand at the door and greet the hand of each person. Smile and say something simple like, “welcome to the service” or “hello and God bless you” to every person. There is something special about pastors taking the time to greet those they are going to minister to when they stand in the pulpit. This greeting session can go on until the service begins. You can still have another greeting after the worship session to welcome everybody to the service.
3 Minute Welcome
In our local Family, after the 1st Uplifting song. We break into a 3 Minute intermission, where everyone visits, greets, shakes hands with all visitors. This creates a warm welcoming time at the beginning of each service.
5) Welcome Video
For the tech-savvy churches, you can have a welcome video that showcases your church and welcomes your congregation. This video can show various groups of people engaging in the different activities that go on in your church. You can capture these moments when you have your regular activities and use them to create videos that will help others know your church better. You can play the video when the congregation arrives and follow it up with a greeting.
Generating Greeting Ideas / Brainstorming
There are many ideas you can use to greet your church congregation, choose the one that works for your church members. Each church is different and appeals to a different type of Christian, e.g. senior citizens or millennials. Find what works for your church and go with it. Get ideas from your welcoming team or other churches. Where you borrow ideas from others, you can tweak them to suit your needs.
I have done this and it is very productive. I scheduled a brainstorming meeting after services. This is what I did
- Provided Pizza / One Time KFC / One time for Missions I provided Fried Alligator Nuggets
- Whiteboard to write down Brainstorming ideas
- Personel invitation to help – generate ideas
- Not only will you get ideas- you will get volunteers to help you with developing a greeting program. People love to help with their own ideas
- After Meeting I got everyone a copy of the ideas generated
- I passed around a list to gather everyone’s email address – I then sent to them the days fruit.
Other Related Tags
- church welcome greetings
- pastor appreciation themes
- pastor appreciation service
Tips: Words of Welcome before Worship
The words of welcome before worship are an important part of the opening service. Welcome words can be said in a variety of ways, but they should always include some form of greeting and words about what is to come. They also help provide context for congregants who may not know what will happen during that particular service or why it is taking place at all. Here are six words of welcome that you might incorporate into your own services: church greetings and welcome
1) “Hello! Welcome!”
2) “We’re glad you could join us this morning.”
3) “Today we gather together in celebration“
4) “It’s so good to see you here with us.”
5)“I’m looking forward to our time together today”
Church Greetings and Welcome
| Type of Greeting | Example |
|---|---|
| Welcome Greeting | “Good morning/afternoon/evening, and welcome to [Church Name]. We’re so glad to have you with us today. Whether you’re a long-time member or a first-time visitor, we pray that today’s service is a blessing to you.” |
| Seasonal Greeting | “Merry Christmas and welcome to our special Christmas Eve service at [Church Name]. We’re so glad you chose to celebrate the birth of our Savior with us.” |
| Before Service Greeting | “Good morning and welcome to [Church Name]. As we prepare to worship together, let’s take a moment to greet those around us.” |
| Visitor Greeting | “If you’re visiting us for the first time today, we extend a special welcome to you. We’re honored that you chose to worship with us at [Church Name], and we hope you feel at home here.” |
| Fellowship Greeting | “Before we begin today’s sermon, let’s take a moment to greet our brothers and sisters in Christ. Extend a warm welcome to those around you.” |
| Online Greeting | “Welcome to [Church Name]’s online service. No matter where you’re joining us from, we’re glad you’re here and hope that today’s service will be a blessing to you.” |
| Mid-Service Greeting | “As we move into a time of prayer, let’s remember to uphold one another in love and fellowship. We are one body in Christ.” |
| End of Service Greeting | “As we conclude our service at [Church Name], may God’s peace and grace go with you this week. We look forward to seeing you next Sunday.” |
These are just examples; church greetings can be personalized and adapted to suit the specific needs and context of a congregation.
10 Church Greeting Examples
Certainly, here are ten examples of warm and inviting greetings that can be used in a church setting:
- Welcome: “Welcome to [Church’s Name]! We’re thrilled to have you here with us today and we hope you feel at home.”
- Fellowship: “Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s come together in fellowship and love, united by our faith.”
- Inspiration: “Hello everyone! We gather today in the house of the Lord to find inspiration and guidance for the week ahead.”
- Thanksgiving: “Good morning! We are so thankful to see you here at [Church’s Name], as we gather to give thanks and praise.”
- Invitation: “Welcome, one and all, to [Church’s Name]! Whether you’re new to our congregation or a long-standing member, you are a cherished part of our church family.”
- Community: “Hello, everyone. We are gathered as a community today to celebrate and deepen our faith.”
- Blessing: “Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ! May his blessings and peace be upon each one of us today.”
- Unity: “Welcome, brothers and sisters. As we gather together, let us remember that we are one in the Spirit, one in the Lord.”
- Encouragement: “Hello, everyone! We gather in God’s name to encourage one another and build each other up in faith. Welcome to [Church’s Name].”
- Warm Reception: “Good morning and welcome! Whether this is your first visit or you’ve been a part of our community for years, we’re grateful to share this day with you.”
Remember, the key to an effective church greeting is sincerity. These greetings set the tone for the service and create an atmosphere of welcome and inclusion.
Good Morning Church Greetings
Absolutely! Here’s a collection of warm, friendly “Good Morning” church greetings:
- 🌅 Sunrise Blessings!
Good morning, church family! As the sun rises, may God’s grace shine upon each of you. - 🕊 Peaceful Mornings!
Good morning, beloved! May the peace of the Lord fill your hearts today and always. - 🙌 New Day, New Mercies!
Good morning! Embrace the new mercies God has gifted us with today and rejoice in His love. - 🌱 Fresh Start Greetings!
A joyful morning to everyone! Let’s start afresh, leaning on God’s everlasting promises. - 🌼 Blossom in Faith!
Good morning, radiant souls! As flowers bloom, may your faith blossom in God’s garden. - 📖 Scripture Sunrise!
Good morning, dear ones! As we gather, let’s dive deep into God’s Word and be refreshed by His truths. - 🎶 Harmony in the Morning!
Good morning! Let our hearts be in harmony with God’s song of love and gratitude.
I hope these greetings sprinkle a bit of sunshine and inspiration for your church gatherings! Have a splendid and blessed day! 🌟🌿
7 Church Welcome Verses
Here are seven Bible verses that many churches use to extend a warm welcome to visitors and members alike:
- Hebrews 13:2 (NIV) “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
- A reminder that every act of kindness, even to strangers, is significant.
- Matthew 18:20 (NIV) “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
- This verse emphasizes the presence of Jesus wherever believers come together.
- Romans 15:7 (NIV) “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
- An encouragement to embrace and accept each other, reflecting the unconditional love of Christ.
- Psalm 100:4 (NIV) “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
- A joyful invitation to come into the presence of God with gratitude and joy.
- 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV) “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
- A nudge to serve and welcome others with a cheerful heart.
- Colossians 3:16 (NIV) “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
- This verse speaks to the shared fellowship and worship in a church community.
- Leviticus 19:34 (NIV) “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
- A timeless message of inclusivity and love for all, regardless of their background.
These verses emphasize the importance of community, hospitality, and shared worship, making them fitting choices to extend a heartfelt welcome in a church setting.
| Suggestion | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. Warm Welcome | Start with a simple “Good morning, church!” to make your congregation feel welcome and included. |
| 2. Scripture Reading | Read a short Bible verse about gathering together or praising God. This not only greets your congregation but immediately focuses everyone’s attention on the Word of God. |
| 3. Express Joy | Make it clear that you are genuinely happy to see everyone. For example, you might say, “It brings me such joy to see all of your faces this morning!” |
| 4. Reflect on the Day | If it’s a special day (like a holiday or anniversary), mention that in your greeting. This can help make the service feel more connected to the real world. |
| 5. Prayer | Open with a short prayer. This could be a prayer of thanks for the chance to gather together, a prayer for the service to come, or both. |
| 6. Affirmation of Shared Beliefs | Reiterate a core belief that everyone in your congregation shares. This could be something like, “We gather here today in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who loves us unconditionally.” |
| 7. Acknowledge Newcomers | Take a moment to specifically greet any newcomers or visitors. Let them know that they are welcome and valued. |
| 8. Preview of the Service | Give a brief overview of what the congregation can expect from the service. This might include the sermon topic, any special music, and so on. |
| 9. Invite Participation | Encourage your congregation to actively participate in the service. This could include singing, praying, or other forms of participation. |
| 10. Blessing | Bless your congregation as you start the service. This can be a simple phrase like, “May the peace of God be with you all.” |
Remember, the best greeting will depend on the unique culture and expectations of your congregation. It’s important to be genuine and speak from the heart.
Words of Welcome Before Worship
Here is a welcoming and inspirational message that can be shared before worship:
🌟 Welcome, Beloved in Christ! 🌟
Good [morning/afternoon/evening] to each and every one of you! It’s a joy and a blessing to gather together in this sacred space to worship, praise, and commune with our loving Creator. Whether you’re joining us for the first time or have been with us for years, know that you are valued, loved, and welcomed here with open arms. 🤗
We come together with hearts full of gratitude, eyes lifted to heaven, and spirits eager to connect with the Divine. We’re here to delve deep into God’s Word, to sing praises to His name, and to support one another as we journey through life’s peaks and valleys. 🏞
💖 “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) 💖
Let’s embrace this holy moment and open our hearts to receive the boundless love, grace, and wisdom God has in store for us today. May the light of God’s presence fill this place, encouraging us, renewing us, and equipping us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our world. 🌍
Let’s join together, lifting our voices in unity, honoring the One who loves us unconditionally, and seeking to grow in faith and love. May this time of worship be a source of inspiration, reflection, and refreshment, empowering us to spread God’s love, peace, and joy to all we meet. 🕊
🙏 Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for this beautiful day and for the privilege of coming together in Your name. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, guide our thoughts, our words, and our actions, and help us to be a light to the world. We open our hearts to You, Lord. Speak to us, mold us, and use us for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 🙏
Once again, welcome to everyone! Let’s worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, celebrating His endless love and mercy!
New Testament Commentaries
Below is a table featuring some renowned New Testament commentaries, their publishers, and websites where they can be found. Please note that availability may vary and it’s always beneficial to check multiple sources for acquiring these commentaries.
| Commentary Name | Publisher | Website |
|---|---|---|
| The New International Commentary on the New Testament | Eerdmans | Eerdmans |
| Word Biblical Commentary | Zondervan | Zondervan |
| Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament | Baker Academic | Baker Academic |
| The New Testament for Everyone | Westminster John Knox Press | Westminster John Knox Press |
| Tyndale New Testament Commentaries | InterVarsity Press | InterVarsity Press |
| Expositor’s Bible Commentary | Zondervan | Zondervan |
| The Anchor Yale Bible Commentary | Yale University Press | Yale University Press |
Final Thoughts
When you take the time to greet your congregation, you are spreading the love of Christ to them. You are making them feel welcome and part of your church family. As believers, we make up God’s family and we are to show each other love, care, and compassion. We mirror the behavior of our Savior who loved us while we were still sinners.
Greetings do not have to be elaborate, only something simple but with a powerful message that leaves your congregation feeling loved. A greeting shows that you care about the well-being of your congregation and you can even direct them to where they can get prayer if they need it. Make it a point/passion to greet your congregation in your unique style and keep it real. Make the greeting session look as natural as possible.
