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Make yourself at home.

An expression of welcome. An invitation into comfort. Something we say when we want someone to be able to relax - to be able to ask for what they need or desire as they need it.

Or perhaps a way of saying, "If you want a drink, get it yourself. Don't wait for me to get it for you."

Which is it? When you say it, which do you mean?

I got thinking about this on Sunday morning. During communion one of the instrumental hymns was a song I sang growing up. The lyrics to it say, "Come home, come home. Ye who are weary, come home." What a beautiful message. What a beautiful invitation. In the hymn, and in the deepest sense, people are invited to hear that message from Jesus. But as we sing it that invitation from Jesus is heard through us.

When we gather together, we want people to feel "at home." But what does that mean? Is it an expression of welcome? An invitation? Or do we mean we want them to find their own way?

I got thinking about this because I had someone come into my office a week ago to share something difficult. This person has been attending our church for a little over a year. They have seen friendliness around them at Covenant, but in that year they have almost no one introduce themselves. Rarely does anyone speak to them on Sunday mornings. And they've never been personally invited to a small group or Bible study or men's breakfast . . . anything. They have heard talk of family and being welcome, but they haven't felt it. What they have felt is the message, "Make yourself at home . . . and get your own glass of water."

This person did not come to share this with me to complain. Rather, they are concerned. They are really excited about us being a community church for our community. They are excited about us being a church committed to next generations. They believe that as we engage with the community people may decide to come and check out our family gatherings. And if they come, they are concerned that those new people - people who need to hear the invitation from Jesus - will receive the same welcome that they have. And we will never see them again. And they may never get to hear the invitation from Jesus.

I don't believe that we intend to give that message. We often presume that someone has been coming for a long time, just to the other service. We don't want to greet them and have them offended that we don't know who they are. Or maybe we just aren't sure what to say to them. I understand this, but by not making the effort to welcome someone we are implicitly communicating that they are not welcome. That this church family may be a home . . . but not a home they are welcome in.

I would like to ask you to join me in intentionally meeting people and welcoming people on Sunday morning at the Community Picnic, on our regular Sunday mornings, and at every gathering we have. Introduce yourself. Ask someone's name . . . and work to remember it. If you've met them before and you don't remember their name, simply apologize for not remembering their name and ask it again. It is better to look a little bit foolish than a lot ungracious.

This encouragement be hard for some of you to hear because I know many of you do welcome people that you know are new. I don't want you to get defensive. If this is you . . . keep it up! And welcome those who you don't think are new, but you don't know their name. You never know how special your greeting and kindness could feel to someone. And also invite them to something - your small group, the Bible study you attend, for coffee after church. Invite them to sit around the table with you - whatever table that might be - while you further the invitation for them to make yourself at home.

When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own.

Leviticus 19:33-34 (The Message)