Last Friday evening my wife and I traveled to Miller Park in Milwaukee to watch the Cubs and Brewers play. We have been there before and have always enjoyed the experience. Miller Park is a great baseball venue. Yes, I still prefer Wrigley Field. What Cubs fan wouldn't? But, Miller Park is still new and clean, with great food options and decent restrooms.
It was a full house. Attendance for the game was 44,084. A great majority of fans were wearing their favorite team's colors. You could tell the Brewers fans from the Cubs fans and there were lots of both. Before the game, I leaned over to my wife exclaiming something she already knows, "I love baseball!"
As we entered the park, our tickets were scanned and we were welcomed to Miller Park. The first person we spoke to was gracious and welcoming. Food was the first thing on our minds, so we checked out the concessions. The concessionaires were friendly and hoped that we would enjoy the game.
As we passed one souveneir stand, we did hear someone yell "You know what CUBS stands for? Chicago Using Brewers Stadium." Pretty clever, I thought. The Cubs/Brewers games do attract a lot of Chicago fans. The Brewers fan sitting next to me was friendly and we discussed possibilities for post-season play.
After the game, we made our way to the car. I was a bit dejected since the Cubs had deservedly lost, 5 to 1, after playing poorly. Brewer hospitality turned ugly. "Cubs suck!" one woman shouted at me. A young woman yelled, "Go back to Chicago!"
Gee, what had I done? That is, other than proudly wear my Cubbie blue t-shirt, jacket and hat? I didn't exactly fear for my life, but the sooner I could get on the road, the better.
At Miller Park everyone who is paid to be nice to guests was, in fact, very nice. Some of the regular fans were nice too, but some were just rude.
Hospitality in congregations can be like a visit to Miller Park. The official greeters and pastor are nice and friendly, the coffee is good and the restrooms are clean. But sometimes you sit next to someone who isn't so happy to share the pew with you. The unspoken message can be, go back to where you belong.
How have you experienced hospitality or lack of it in congregations you have visited?
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I know just what you mean! I have visited congregations where even the "official nice people" have not been so welcoming. For example, I visited my sister's ELCA church in MN recently. I was alone, as she was in the hospital with a new baby (yay!). I parked in the parking lot and went in what seemed to be the front door. Directly inside was a visitors' info booth with a woman sitting there. "Nice," I thought, but she never even looked up to say a word to me! Then I went looking around for the worship center. I finally found a door - but it went right into the front of the worship room. Since it was moments before the service, and I knew no one, I didn't want to go in that way. So I went looking again. I luckily ran into the pastor - robed and hurriedly headed for that door I had just avoided. I asked him how to get into the worship room. He sent me on a convoluted route that I would have never found on my own. Turns out I had come in the wrong door.
ReplyDeleteMoral of my story: Not only friendly people, but clear, visible signs are a very important part of the hospitality of your congregation.
Pastor Clements,
ReplyDeleteI shared your blog as a devotion at our staff meeting this week. With Pastor Paul being a huge Cubs fan I thought it was an appropriate way to end the baseball season.
One of the reasons we joined New Life was because of the hospitality we received from the first day we visited. Now after almost 5 years I still see it every day in the acts of the congregation.
Peace,
Terri Henry
Secretary
New Life ~ Bolingbrook