It’s hard to persuade you about what we know: that you’re welcome here, from the moment you walk in the door. Hope you don’t mind, but people are going to act like they’re glad to see you. And when they get to know you, that won’t go away. It’s hard to prove this to you, because churches have a well-earned reputation for being unfriendly, judgmental, and hypocritical.
So if you have the courage to come through the door under the archway on a Sunday morning a little before ten, you’ll find out about the welcome we have for you. But there are other ways to get to know what we’re about here. One is to show up at a study group. We have one that meets on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. in the back room at Biggby Coffee on Michigan Avenue, and another that meets at Superior Apartments at 1:15 on Wednesdays. Or, for women, try Women United, a group of women committed to being and making community, and to supporting each other advancing through life. The general meeting with dinner (free, childcare provided) is on third Mondays at about 5:30 at the north end of the church building. Or the senior lunch, one Monday each month; or one of our Faith in Action weekends, when we get out and do helpful things around Albion. Or come have lunch at noon most Sundays with the pastor and some students in Lower Baldwin at Albion College. Or call Jeremy and make a time to sit down together.
There’s a world of people who don’t understand why some of us like to get together on Sundays at 10, sing songs together, pray together, and listen to a message from a preacher. If you’re one of the majority of people who don’t understand the whole communal worship thing, that’s OK. There are lots of other ways to connect with other thoughtful people and talk about spiritual questions, or work together for good. Please try one!