Might be a re-post, but it's worth it. A reminder that not everyone's thrilled with greeting time and that we need to be sensitive to visitors.
Handshake Time
By John Cosper
THEME: Welcoming Visitors
CHARACTERS
Pastor- Unseen
Randy- A visitor in a church; not someone new to church
Randy sits alone on a pew at center.
PASTOR- (unseen) We’re so glad to see you all in the house of the Lord today. Would you stand up and greet others around you?
Randy stands.
RANDY- Stand and greet? Oh no, not another one! Gosh, why do they have to do this? Don’t they know— (shaking a hand) Hi there… good to see you too… Never seen you before, don’t know why it’s so good. (lets go of the hand) Don’t they know how awkward this is? It was hard enough for me to walk into a new church by myself without—(shaking another hand) Hi there… a beautiful day the Lord has made? Yes, I think the same thing when it’s overcast with 90% chance of thunderstorms. (lets go) I mean how insecure do they have to make a person feel? It’s not like you can bond with someone over a simple—(shaking another hand) Hi there… yes, I hope the Lord blesses me too. (lets go) I understand, they want their people to be nice to new faces. But when I was in youth group, I didn’t want to meet new people. This was my once excuse to give a hug to Jamie Bratcher, the cute chick from my Sunday School—(shakes another hand) Hi… It’s nice to meet you. (shaking other hands) And your wife, and your mother... Oh, she’s the wife and she’s the daughter? My mistake. (lets go) Note to self, don’t date that girl. She’ll look like George Washington at age 25. Gosh, how long are they going to let this go on? New guy’s embarrassed enough! Let’s get on with the worship. (shakes another hand) Hi there… thank you, the lady with the yellow hat already had the Lord bless my day, but I’ll take a second helping. (lets go) It’s not that I wouldn’t want to make friends. I just don’t like being put on the spot. Relationships take time, and this—(shakes another hand) Hi there. How are ya? (lets go) Right to the point, thank goodness. I guess it’s a good thing that the people believe in community. I just hope they know to go deeper. Anyone can smile and make nice with the—(shakes another hand) Hello… well, he made it. I don’t know how beautiful the rain is, but he made it! (lets go) This is the easy part. Opening up, getting to know others on a deeper level? Now there’s the real—(shakes another hand; this time a very attractive young woman) Hey, nice to see you. Really nice. (lets go) Wow. I think Rebecca St. James has an American twin! I wonder if she’s single. (reaches out for the girl) Wait for me!!!
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