Greeter Ministry Honors the Parkers

Fostering a true spirit of welcome is something all churches strive for. If anyone wants to know what is expected of the congregation, look no further than to what Ann and John Parker have been doing in our sanctuary for decades. As we rebuild our Greeter Ministry, we are inspired by the Parkers. They consistently and eagerly provide a warm, Christian welcome to those they don’t know. By their actions, they are breaking down barriers and letting guests know just how much we appreciate their decision to worship with us at St James. Many of our parishioners have cited the actions of Ann and John as influencing their decision to become members of our church.

In this spirit, the newly named Greeter Leadership Team of Frances Trask and Elizabeth Hinshaw has just named Ann and John Parker as St James’ very first Honorary Greeters. We congratulate the Parkers on this recognition and thank them for being a strong influence on membership growth at St James Parish.

We are reshaping the Greeter Ministry, and by doing so, elevating it to the higher level of importance it deserves. One of our goals is to empower each member of our parish to be a part of the welcoming experience that is worship at St. James. In addition to more greeters, greeter training and dedicated leadership, this Ministry is setting new expectations for our congregation. Randy Inge, head of our Evangelism Committee, says that welcoming our visitors and guests is not just a job for Greeters.

All of us must look for faces we don’t recognize and go out of our way to welcome them and care for them. We encourage each of you to think of the hospitality shown by John and Ann Parker and to share that same warmth to any who walk through our door.