“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1). This verse pops into my head often when I think of gathering with my brothers and sisters in Christ. It depicts such a joy and honor in coming together to worship the Lord in His house.
Ever since I was a little girl, Sundays have been my favorite day of the week, and I think this is exactly why. Though I didn’t know the reasoning, from a young age the Lord has put such a joy in my heart whenever I have had the privilege of gathering with God’s family. That joy has only grown as I have gotten older, as the Lord has grown my relationship with Him, shown me the importance and benefits of being part of His family, and revealed Himself as faithful and mighty when worshiping Him together with my church family. For this reason, I have so enjoyed serving on the Greeting Team.
It seems like such a simple thing to “greet” people as they come into church, but the way God has used this “simple” thing to encourage me and bring glory to His name is amazing. My husband and I started serving in this way shortly after joining CFC in 2016. Neither of us had ever been part of such a large church, and the number of people we did not know seemed intimidating. But greeting new and familiar faces was one way God helped make the church start to seem a little smaller and more intimate. (Granted, five years in, there are still many faces I can’t wait to get the pleasure to meet.)
Not only have we been able to meet new people through this ministry, but we’ve also had a front-row seat to see God actively working in people’s lives. I remember one Sunday speaking with a young woman who was attending CFC for the first time—she seemed rather shy and almost uncomfortable being in a church, but God has moved in big ways in her life, and now, not only is she a part of this church, God even introduced her to her husband here. How cool is that?!
It is so humbling to see and greet the many faces of those God has called into His family—different shapes, ages, colors, sizes, abilities, all different and unique, yet all beautiful and wonderfully created by their Heavenly Father. We are family! God has called each of us, and through greeting, He has grown a deeper love for Him and His people in me. So yes, with much joy and eager anticipation, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” I am excited for how God is working in and among us, and for what He has in store for us as a family.
