December 14, 2017

Dear MLEPC Family and Friends,

It is hard to believe we are only 10 days away from Christmas Eve! The recent snow does make it feel more like Christmas, as do all our many Christmas events this month.

Many, many thanks to all of you who have helped with everything we have had going on recently. I am absolutely amazed at how many people have walked through our doors in the last two weeks. I don't want to focus only on numbers, but it's hard not to rejoice with 175 children attending this month's Fired-Up Friday (a new record!), 770 people at the Cantata (a full balcony!), 204 at the Women's Christmas Craft (2/3rds of whom were guests, not members!), and about 300 at both the Jubilee Christian School play and the Kingdom Kids Preschool program. All of this tells me that God is up to something here at MLEPC!

As we have more and more visitors coming to our church, I want to encourage you to share the Joy, not just at Christmas time but throughout the year. MLEPC Trustee John Galley helped us with a staff workshop this week, and he shared with us a fundamental approach to hospitality that UPMC hospitals use. Their staff practices the "10 - 5" rule. When they are within 10 feet of someone, they should make eye contact and smile and when they are within 5 feet, they are to greet the person. Beyond that, staff members are encouraged to look for signs that the person may need help, and to offer assistance. If the person needs help finding their way for example, the staff person will not just give them directions, but will actually escort them to their destination!  Even busy doctors are supposed to do this! Just this morning, I was at a UPMC facility, and the woman pushing the laundry cart in the hallway did exactly that. It was a brief encounter, but it was  cheerful and personal. I felt recognized and seen.

What if we started to do this here at the church? What an impact that could have on all of our visitors! We all know this is a very complicated building. How can we help people find their way? How can we acknowledge people when they come into worship? How can we help people find connection, whether to a small group, Sunday School class, or even a cup of coffee?

My prayer for our congregation is that God would give us new eyes for our congregation, to help us see others as He sees them. To see them as precious, dearly beloved children. To see them as lambs looking for a Shepherd. To see them as brothers and sisters to be welcomed home.

May God fill you with His Joy this season, and may that Joy overflow to everyone around you - friends and future friends!