Our vision of hospitality begins with the desire that God’s love will be reflected in our welcome to all who enter Church of The Palms. Whether you are a visitor or church member, we want your first impression on Sunday morning to be that we are glad you came today and that we welcome you to our church family.
Whether you attend a Contemporary or a Traditional Service, your first encounter will be with a smile and a warm hello from a Greeter. At the Contemporary Service, greeters also provide information about the church and its programs. At the Traditional Service, ushers are ready to assist you by providing a bulletin to guide you through the service. There is a Welcome Center where someone waits to greet visitors, answer questions, and provide information about the church. Visitors and new members can fill out a “I’m New Here” name tag to introduce themselves.
Hospitality doesn’t end with first impressions. We invite all to participate in the church activities. The Welcome Center is a loaded with information about what’s available. Each Sunday you’ll find a “What’s Happening Today” poster with who, what, when and where information about everything that is taking place on campus. There are also fliers about special events, children and youth programs, forms to direct questions to the pastors and staff members, offering envelopes, printed sermons and more.
To make involvement even easier, Heather Ronald, our new Office and Hospitality Coordinator, moves the church office outside to the new Connect Desk on Sunday mornings from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. It’s located in the courtyard, where we gather for coffee and fellowship. You can go to the Connect Desk to sign up for church groups and special events, purchase tickets, ask questions and get directions. In addition, as a convenience to you, its location gives Heather and her volunteers a greater opportunity to engage with everyone nearby.
We’ve even made the coffee fellowship more welcoming by providing an expanded array of goodies with something for everyone. There are gluten-free treats, sugar-free treats, and vegan treats as well as plenty of donuts and cookies along with cheese, fruit and nuts. It feels as if something has been made just for you.
Hospitality is all part of the process of welcoming strangers and transforming them into friends, of strengthening our relationships and the bonds of community. Hospitality is one more way of loving our neighbors well.
