Welcome(d) to the Neighborhood

It's been three weeks and two days since we moved into our new home and it is truly feeling a lot like home.  After a great morning of worship at New Life, we came home, ate lunch, and decided to take a nap.  About a half hour later Champ started barking, and we heard a knock at the front door.  It was our "back door" neighbors coming to welcome us to the neighborhood, with some fresh "Gobs."  Since we live out in the country and since the property we bought was part of a large farm that was sub-divided into 12 lots, our neighbors are more spread out than we've been used to over the years.  It was great to have Patti and Carly, her daughter, stop by and welcome us to the area. (The gobs were great, too!)  We've been wondering who our neighbors are and the best way to get to know them.  We've waved and said, "Hi!" to folks as we've walked Champ, but so far that's been about it.  We're grateful that Patti and Carly took the initiative to welcome us. 

As I reflected on that, it struck me that every Sunday morning during worship we have folks who stop in to "visit" for the first time, and that it takes a lot of courage to do that (especially since we're a non-denominational church meeting in a high school in western PA)!  The best possible response to such courage on our part is to welcome the folks and let them know how grateful we are that they decided to join us.  I realize that some folks sort of want to come in "under the radar," check us out and then go home, but most of us appreciate genuine fellowship and hospitality.  Whether your a "New Lifer" or not, the next time you see a guest at worship, take a few minutes and extend them a welcome to the neighborhood.  It may just be the beginning of something great.  Who knows, it may even be the avenue God uses to draw someone into His Kingdom.