We are told that we should forgive and forget, and after worshiping at a Presbyterian church in a town we were visiting one weekend, Kathy and I have forgiven them but we can't seem to forget. I suppose we can't forget because we learned a lasting lesson, one that we often pass on to others here at WFPC, hoping to make sure our church home doesn't end up needing similar forgiveness. We were unfamiliar with the church except that Kathy knew a high school friend was a member there. That friend was the only person in the church who welcomed us that Sunday morning.

I have come to believe that we should view WFPC similarly to the way we view our homes, where we seek to make visitors feel welcomed and wanted as a return guest. You may have seen me carrying out greeting duties in the narthex on Sunday mornings; it's just like when a visitor -- known or unknown -- comes to the front door of my home. At WFPC, that greeting is often a visitor's first impression of what we have come to love about our church. Yes, first impressions are important, as are second ones, and third ones and so on.

We need to remember the other touchpoints, such as the pew seats, where some Sunday you may notice someone "new" sitting near you. Approach them and let them know that you are happy they chose to come to your "home" that morning and make yourself available to be helpful. Another touchpoint can be the nursery. I have seen and am told how well our child care staff do in looking after all of the young ones in their charge. A visiting mama will probably not hesitate to return. Another touchpoint is our housekeeping, which we successfully work at, keeping the grounds neatly tended, the floors vacuumed, the bathrooms clean, the heat/AC working well, and so on. Another touchpoint are the messages -- the gospel well-preached, the Bible well-taught, the songs well-chosen and well-sung, the return visitors are well-informed about WFPC, the food well-prepared and the love lavishly spread all around.

In all that we do, we have a healthy, hopeful sense that our greetings, our welcoming efforts, effectively represent so well the powerful spirit that we feel here and is unmistakable to newcomers.

You know, Jesus was pretty good with hospitality. He was always taking time to help and heal and nourish people. Jesus welcomed Nicodemus into his camp,to talk about why He came into the world.He respected the woman at the well,the one who had five husbands and a lover and could not understand why a Jewish man would be talking to a Samaritan woman such as she. Jesus looked at the thousands of people who had gathered to hear him preach, and was compelled to feed them real food in addition to his Word. He was known as a teacher, as a rabbi, yet Jesus did not hide behind a curtain, but rather went into the humble homes of those who needed the power of love more than law. Jesus promised that, when he went home, he would prepare a place in eternity in His father's house for those who believed in Him. And he prepared a room where he washed the feet of his disciples and served them a unity meal that Christians still remember more than 2,000 years later. Jesus did all of these things as an aid, as something to help, to love his neighbor.

No surprise there: It's not about us; it's about loving others.