Pitching a tent and waiting.
"Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it." Hebrews 13:2
What tells you "You are welcome here?" Is it a warm smile, a waiting steaming cup of coffee, a shoulder on which to lean? Signs invite people into the life of the church. You are our best welcome sign: your warmth, your passion, your caring. Do you ever recall visiting a church and not being able to find your way into the building? Or worse, coming in but feeling left out? Ouch!
Sometimes we talk about "signs from God" reminding us of God's presence. Church signs invite people into a life lived in relationship with God. So your session (church council) is working to develop physical signs to welcome people into the life of our church.
The Communications Committee is developing signs for each major room of the church. Using the blue color of our hymnals, these signs make the connection between worship and the rest of church life. They will soon be up in the hallways, helping people find the activities of the church.
The Property Committee has been charged to install additional handicap accessible signs outside the church, so all God's people can find the ways to enter the building.
The Montgomery County Historical Preservation Commission has approved our improved signage in front of the church.
We will continue to have three signs: our historic stone sign plus two additional signs. We asked the Historical Preservation Commission to place a sign on either side of our stone sign.
They agreed. We asked to have signs whose wording can easily be changed. Again, they agreed. Many, many thanks to those who shepherded the sign through the approval process.
As part of our "holy conversations" as a congregation, we listen for God's leading. So we will be able to keep, revise, our change the signage as we listen to one another and Gods Spirit.
The new signs will be printed on stiff boards, for easy installation. Session is working on a design for the two new posters which will be up for at least three months. These signs will include:
Come summer, in worship, we will dedicate the new signs and retire our faithful wooden sign.
Let us continue to pray that each of us would be a sign of God's grace for all the world to see.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark Greiner
Takoma Park Presbyterian Church
Webmaster : Brian C. Monsell