Church greetings are crucial. They greet regulars and those who have never been to the church before. The greetings shared at a worship service can be serious, humorous, entertaining, or any combination of these. This article dicusses words of welcome before worship.
Church greetings should reflect the personality of the planner while also being warm and informative to the congregation.
The welcome at the beginning of a sermon is a great opportunity for members of the congregation to meet one another, set the tone for the service, and learn more about the sermon’s topic. Have a nice one, then!
We hope the following examples and guidelines for planning greetings during worship services will be a great help to you and your congregation. You’ll also find out about church welcome verses in this exposition.
Greetings For Church Letters
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.
church greetings and salutations examples / jesus christ 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.
greetings in the name of the lord / lord jesus christ 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.
how do you greet a church audience? / worship service greetings / church welcome speeches 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:
Words Of Welcome Before Worship
The following are samples of introduction speeches that can be used as models for your next event. The following are merely suggestions; please feel free to use them as such.
In the Wee Hours of a Sunday Morning FIRST EVER WELCOME SPEECH IN A CHURCH And a good morning to you! Hi, I’m [NAME], and I’m happy to have you visit [CHURCH NAME]. First-time visitors, we appreciate your interest and hope you enjoy your stay. We anticipate worshiping with you during the upcoming [service duration, i.e. hour]. In [place], you’ll find a contact card; please fill it out so we can get in touch with you.
Don’t forget [insert whatever relevant information about child care, cell phone use, etc. here].
Let’s say a prayer together. Insert your own prayer here: As the praise band enters, I’d like to lead you in singing [song title].
The Second Welcome Address at Church Hi! Hi, I’m [name], and we’re thrilled that you could make it to our morning meeting. We’d like to express our joy at your attendance at [church name] if this is your first visit. Our relaxed atmosphere, it is my sincere hope, will aid in your feeling at ease here. I should add that [insert relevant info about child care, cell phone use, etc.]. Finally, we ask that you fill out the feedback form we’ve provided for you at [address]. Please share some information about yourself so that we may better serve you and pray for you.
Let’s pray that this time together is a blessing from God. Insert your own prayer here: [Present new component.]
Graduations Third Welcoming Remarks I bid you a good night. Hello, everyone; I’m [name], and it’s an honor to welcome the [year] graduating class’s loved ones and mentors here today. It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago that these students were getting ready to enter [name of school] as freshmen, and now we’re celebrating their graduation and all they’ve accomplished.
For the many ways in which you have contributed to these students’ success, we are truly grateful. Your giving has ensured the success of their [elementary, secondary, tertiary, etc.] education. That’s very kind of you.
At the end of the ceremony, the graduates will receive their diplomas and be sent on their way after hearing from a few instructors and students. Include [any details that are necessary]
Don’t forget to [add necessary details]. Help me in making [next presenter/speaker] feel at home.
SPEECH OF WELCOME #4 The faculty and I would like to extend a warm welcome to the families and guests of the [year] graduates of [school name]. Looking back on the last [number] years, we hope to recall many happy and uplifting memories.
Without the unconditional love, unwavering support, and inspiring words of every person in this room tonight, this journey would have been an impossibility. Before we get started, I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of the entire faculty and student body for everything you’ve done to make tonight possible.
For the last time, please remember that [use this space to insert crucial details]. So, let me ask you to join me in making way for [next presenter/speaker].
Assemblies of People General speeches like these are great for parties like picnics, potlucks, and student welcome-back dinners.
Number Five Welcome Address Howdy, folks! Simply, I appreciate your being here so much. It’s great to see a lot of old friends here. My name is [name], and on behalf of [if applicable, insert the name of the church or organization here], I’d like to extend to you the warmest of welcomes. We hope you’ll take this opportunity to meet new people and strengthen existing relationships.
Let’s go over a few things first: What you’re about to read is extremely relevant, so please read it carefully. When I have your attention again, we’ll proceed to [insert next part here]. Tell us about any other activities you have planned for the gathering. [If appropriate, insert a prayer here.]
Sixth Welcoming Address Welcome! My name is [name], and I’m with [organization or church]; I just wanted to introduce myself and say how happy we are that you could make it to [name of event]. We welcome any newcomers and would enjoy the chance to get to know you better.
We’ve gathered here today because [insert reason here; it could be as simple as a chance to break bread together]. Fun, food, and [insert other elements that will occur] will all come together for an unforgettable experience.
I need to take a moment to myself, and then we can [insert instructions here]. Take into account the following [vital pieces of information or reminders.] Please come back any time!
BRING ME A COPY
Gathering of Members or Company Officials SPEECH OF WELCOME No. 7 Cheers [to the morning, the afternoon, and the evening]. Many thanks for taking part in today’s [insert meeting type here]. Our plan is to cover the following in this meeting and wrap up by [time frame]. We’ll get into [supplementary matters] if time permits.
[For the benefit of any guests] There appears to be some new faces in the room; therefore, I move that we all take a moment to introduce ourselves. At that point, [person’s name] will need only a few moments of your time before we can get down to business.
Anointing of the Sick Newborn SPEECH OF WELCOME NO. 8 They say that children are a gift from God. We have gathered to dedicate this child in honor of God and as a symbol of our gratitude for the blessing he or she has bestowed upon us as a family, a congregation, and a community. Name here, and on behalf of the family, I’d like to thank you for coming to [name of church] to celebrate this joyous occasion.
As Christians, we consider it an incredible blessing, honor, and responsibility to train our children to live lives that bring glory to God. Since God is the rightful owner of our children, it seems fitting that we take this opportunity to dedicate [child’s name] to God.
[Any relevant information for the ceremony and its aftermath.]
[Pray if necessary; if not, have someone else say a prayer.] I’d like to invite [dedicatory coordinator] to the front of the room so we can get started.
Advent Celebration NINETH IN A SERIES OF WELCOME DISCUSSIONS And a good morning to you! Thank you for joining us at [church name] to honor the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Whether you regularly attend or are just checking us out today, we’re happy to have you here, and we can’t wait to share some Christmas cheer and the meaning of the season with you as we sing some carols and share some messages.
Hello, my name is [name], and I am writing to inform you of [vital service information]. It would be greatly appreciated if visitors would fill out a contact card and leave it in the [place where your church keeps them]. We’re excited to learn more about you.
Please say a prayer with me. Place your prayer here. [Develop subsequent component of service]
The Easter Vigil SPEECH OF WELCOME #10 Inviting you to [name of church]! Hi, I’m [name], and I’m glad you could join us for Easter Sunday services. In case you’re here from out of town, we appreciate your presence on this, the most joyous Sunday of the year. We will be singing, teaching, and [doing whatever else we do on Sundays] today in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Please take a moment now to fill out a contact card and place it in the offering plate as it passes if you are a visitor. We can learn more about you thanks to this! As a reminder, [add here any mandatory information about the service].
Those who wish to pray with me are welcome to do so. [Develop subsequent component of service]
Church Welcome Verses
Our God is a welcoming God. He welcomes anyone and everyone who believes on Jesus into His family. While He lived on earth, Jesus always welcomed anyone into His presence or to wherever He was preaching at the time.
With Jesus as our example, we should never be shy about welcoming others. Whether it’s welcoming friends into our home, visitors into our church, or just saying hello to a stranger on the street, as Christians we should display the welcoming attitude of God.
To help you study this welcoming attitude of God, here are seven Bible verses to get you started:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
This verse epitomizes God’s welcoming attitude. This reminder was written to the early church. It went against their culture to welcome people different from themselves (Greeks, slaves, etc.) – just like in today’s world, there are some people we might find it hard to welcome based on our cultural expectations. But if someone is a believer in Christ, they are the same as we are, and should be welcomed.
“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” Matthew 5:46-48
This verse is about welcoming everyone, not just fellow Christians. This does not contradict the previous example, though – if anything, it takes the welcoming concept to the next logical step. It’s easy to welcome those like us (other Christians), but what about those who are so different that they’re not even believers? Welcoming those who have nothing in common with us should be one of the distinguishing marks of Christians.
“When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.” Luke 9:11
If we’re to follow Jesus’ example, then we should be as welcoming as He is here. Not only did He treat the crowds with kindness by welcoming them, He did something for them – He told them about the Kingdom and He healed them. Being welcoming is more than just saying hello – it’s finding ways to bless people.
“When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.” Acts 15:4
Here is another good illustration of Christians welcoming other Christians. In this case, “they” are Paul, Barnabas, and others traveling to Jerusalem on a mission for the newly-birthed church. This passage reminds us to be not just welcoming in general, but to welcome and serve workers in the church. Whether it’s a missionary, an elder, or the groundskeeper, anyone who works for the church should always be welcomed by other church workers and fellow believers.
“And thus you shall greet him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.” 1 Samuel 25:6
Peace – this is one of the simplest, easiest ways to ensure that you always have a welcoming attitude. Focus on peace – in your heart, your home, and in the words you say – and everyone around you will feel welcome.
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7
If any verse serves as a blatant reminder about Jesus’ welcoming nature, this one is it. Jesus died for us so that we could be welcomed, sinless and reborn, into the presence of God. Dare we exclude or ignore others for our own petty reasons when Jesus sacrificed himself to make us welcome?
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Matthew 25:35-36
This is probably one of the most well-known verses about welcoming others. It speaks specifically to those who might initially be hard to welcome – the poor, the sick, or anyone who we consider “different.” But our kindness is not only a reflection on Christianity as a whole, but it’s a direct reflection on how we think about Jesus.
