Church Greeters (Full Version)

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crownofbeauty -> Church Greeters (8/7/2008 11:14:49 AM)

How many greeters do you have in your church before you walk into the sanctuary? Do you shake hands with each of them as you walk by them?

When I walk up to my church, there is someone holding the door open and that person has bulletins in his/her hand. He/she has his/her hand extended to shake. Once you are inside the doors, there are several other greeters with bulletins (I guess so no one is missed). So, again, I shake someone else’s hand. Then there is another set of doors before going into the corridor that leads to the sanctuary. In front of those doors is yet another couple that both extend their hands to shake. So, I basically have shaken 4 or more people’s hands just to get into church. I really don’t see the need for this. One or two people I can understand…maybe, but 4-6 greeters? I personally don’t want to shake all of those hands, but don’t want to appear rude if I don’t. I know 3 of the people that greet every single week were not asked to greet. They feel this is what they want to do and no one would dare tell them to stop.

We also have a Welcome Center, but the couple there is behind a counter. They are there to answer questions for newcomers.

So, what is it like walking into your church?



Qtman -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 11:21:01 AM)

Mine is about like you described. However I must quickly add I prefer this to walking in and out and no one noticed. I have been to those also.



Grace-N-Mercy -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 11:22:13 AM)

LOL! Your church sounds very much like mine! [:D] There are three or four people who stand at the entrance I use and you have to shake the hands of each of them!! Then there are people who stand at the entrance of the sanctuary who hand you the bulletin (the guy I usually see is sooo sweet. I attend a very, very large church and thought I'd get so lost in the sea of faces, but this guy hugs me every Sunday morning and tells me how good I look [:)]) Once inside, there are guys who greet the kids and give them a special bulletin.

We also have welcome centers where people go if they need something.

I agree that it's not necessary to have sooo many greeters... three or four at the entrance is kinda overwhelming, but they do start to recognize you after a while and the greetings become more personal.



mcleod -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 11:36:26 AM)

So walking into wife and my gathering is not quite like that. First they have found out by handing out bulletins first. That some people will leave them behind and thus making it hard for people to get home by 1:00 p.m.. So I don't know it shows either you church has a lot of love or a lot of people want to be noticed.



Peter_Gunn -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 11:58:58 AM)

At our former church, there are kids (well...young men...from about 10 to 15) that open the doors for people...it always brings a smile to faces, especially of the older folks.

When it's raining, those same young men go to a car, with an umbrella, and walk the ladies and older folks in.

I don't know who gets the bigger blessing...the kids or the adults!

Aside from that, they also have a couple of adults that hand out bulletins and introduce themselves to visitors. The "greeters" have also been asked to introduce visitors to at least one other person that "appears" to have commonalities.

Fortunately, it was a small church and visitors don't come every Sunday. So the greeters can take an extra couple of minutes to do this.



crownofbeauty -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 12:39:23 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Qtman

Mine is about like you described. However I must quickly add I prefer this to walking in and out and no one noticed. I have been to those also.


There are times I would just like to walk into church without shaking all those hands. I agree it's better than having no one greet. But, when it's the same people greeting every week and they know you, do you really need to shake their hand each week? Why not just a friendly hello and welcome and hand me the bulletin.

My DH and I have greeted in our church. While we enjoyed saying hello to everyone coming in, I didn't particularly like shaking all of those hands. I also tried to be considerate of those that looked like they didn't want to shake hands. After greeting, I would go wash my hands before joining everyone in the sanctuary. Not, that I'm a germ freak...but who knows what everyone touched or who is sick, you know?

We don't have greeters for our Wednesday night services. Does anyone have greeters for Wednesday's?




Zhi -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 2:18:26 PM)

I never manage to get anywhere near my seat without shaking at least half a dozen hands, but mostly I think it's because my church is small and friendly and everyone is wandering around saying hi to everyone before service starts... I don't think we have any official greeters (half the time we don't even have a person officially designated to hand out bulletins). hehe

Unfortunately we're going to have to look for a new church soon (we moved, but we're spending weekends up there working on our house and going to our old church). I would say that if I went to a church and no one paid any attention to me, I would probably not go back again. I would assume designated greeters are an attempt to avoid that. I also think that people who think it's their personal mission to make people feel welcome despite not being "official" is a blessing. But, if you don't want to shake hands for whatever reason, try having your hands full (get a really big Bible, carry a bag or a reference book, etc), then just give a cheerful "hello!"



Ps103 -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 2:21:59 PM)

There are several people who are ushers (I guess that is what you call them) at my church, but they don't shake everyone's hand--they smile and say hello and answer questions for visitors. They are friendly but not obtrusive. I like that.

At our old church, the first time we went, no one said dog, pig or turkey to us. It was a small church, so it was sort of weird. We decided to give them another chance and went back the next week, and someone came up to us and said "Why did you run off last week? We were all waiting for you at Coffee Hour, and you never came up!"

Well, we were new and didn't know that everyone went over to the parish hall for coffee after church[:D]. To their credit, when we explained that we left because we didn't know anything about Coffee Hour, they immediately took to having a vestry member at the front door before and after church to welcome visitors and direct them to the parish hall to meet everyone.



DougHorton -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 5:06:40 PM)

We have one greeter. Her job is to direct visitors. Everybody else does a pretty good job of greeting each other.



TrustingGod -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 6:17:58 PM)

If you don't want to shake hands, simply ignore the outstretched hand and give them a warm, sincere smile while saying good morning. If it is the same people each week, they'll recognize you prefer not to shake hands. Or, keep your hands full.



DougHorton -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 6:40:25 PM)

I am trying to image Mr. Monk as a church greeter. [:D]



Ps103 -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 8:37:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DougHorton

I am trying to image Mr. Monk as a church greeter. [:D]


ROFL!



FurGodWurLivin -> RE: Church Greeters (8/7/2008 10:10:51 PM)

Usually, if the church has "greeters" I want to show up 15 minutes late or so... Not that I'm a germaphobe, but I'm just a little introverted at 10 AM.

Adam



1love1God1way -> RE: Church Greeters (8/9/2008 4:54:05 PM)

In our 30 person or so congregation, I usually shake about 29 hands. . .

Every one of us is a greeter.



kernsfamily -> RE: Church Greeters (8/11/2008 10:09:02 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: crownofbeauty

How many greeters do you have in your church before you walk into the sanctuary? Do you shake hands with each of them as you walk by them?

When I walk up to my church, there is someone holding the door open and that person has bulletins in his/her hand. He/she has his/her hand extended to shake. Once you are inside the doors, there are several other greeters with bulletins (I guess so no one is missed). So, again, I shake someone else’s hand. Then there is another set of doors before going into the corridor that leads to the sanctuary. In front of those doors is yet another couple that both extend their hands to shake. So, I basically have shaken 4 or more people’s hands just to get into church. I really don’t see the need for this. One or two people I can understand…maybe, but 4-6 greeters? I personally don’t want to shake all of those hands, but don’t want to appear rude if I don’t. I know 3 of the people that greet every single week were not asked to greet. They feel this is what they want to do and no one would dare tell them to stop.

We also have a Welcome Center, but the couple there is behind a counter. They are there to answer questions for newcomers.

So, what is it like walking into your church?



Sounds like ours...."greeters" are posted at all entrances.....along with a "small army" at the main entrance to the church....not only to welcome people, but, to be there in case visitors need directions....or have questions. (where do I go with the children? restrooms? where can i get a wheelchair?, etc...etc....etc.....)...being a first-time visitor to our church, which is over 800,000 square feet can be intimidating.....(I know...i was a "first time" visitor 6 years ago!)

Greeters also, in some ways, act as "eyes and ears" for security, as well.....for instance, in the children's areas, "greeters" are also the ones making sure you have your "security sticker" on as you enter.

with 10,000+ in the church on a Sunday morning, we're always going to have a high number of "first time" visitors.....so, making sure as many as possible are "welcomed" and made to feel that way is a big undertaking.....one that our church, I think, does an extremely good job at.



buckifn -> RE: Church Greeters (8/11/2008 2:03:18 PM)

quote:

But, if you don't want to shake hands for whatever reason, try having your hands full (get a really big Bible, carry a bag or a reference book, etc), then just give a cheerful "hello!"


I don't see why it would be necessary to act out a lie. If you don't want to shake hands then don't..it's that simple..that easy.



FairviewBaptist -> RE: Church Greeters (8/14/2008 11:32:59 AM)

every service we have 4 ushers in our entrance hall to greet people .



Wild-Rose -> RE: Church Greeters (8/15/2008 3:38:24 PM)

At my church we hug. Very little hand shaking going on. I can imagine that hugging might annoy some people too.



zoebob -> RE: Church Greeters (8/15/2008 7:10:02 PM)

I can't speak for what happens at the early service. We show up quite early for SS though. There is a family (couple and older children: high school and college age) that runs the coffee counter. THere are a few others that fill in if they will be gone or something. The husband greets people at the doors as they come in. We have 2 double doors all together. He can usually oopen the door for most people. About 1.5 years ago (at least) my DS has started joining him in opening doors for people. He was about 6 when he started doing this. He will do one set of doors and the other man does the other set. DS does this most weeks on his own...unless it's really cold out. I have had many people tell me how sweet it is for him to be there eager to open the doors, say hello, and attempt to shake their hand...even if it's the left hand because he isn't sure on all that yet.

We also have 2 ushers at the doors to the "sanctuary" handing out bullitens. Our layout is pretty simple. A large octagonal foyer. There are offices around 4 sides of it. The sanctuary is straight off to the left. It also doubles as a dining room for dinners and we can transform it in about 10 minutes. Then there is the kitchen that opens to the foyer and the sanctuary. STraight opposite the main doors is the one hallway which contains the classrooms, bathrooms, and nurseries.

My church has about 300-350 in two services. My pastor is pretty good at noticing and greeting the visitors each week.



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