A good welcome saves lives
Matthew 10: 40-42 New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE June 28, 2026 Photo of a red heart spray-painted over a white 5-petal flower on well-worn pavement. The word "welcome" is painted over the red heart in black paint. “All are welcome”. Have you been to a church with a sign that reads “All are welcome”? How was it? If you had to rate their welcome on a scale from 1 to 10, what would you give it? How would you rate the welcome of this church? How have you witnessed it change over time? In many ways “All are welcome” can come off feeling like “All lives matter”. How intentional is the welcome? How might that welcome be shielding and protecting harmful attitudes and behavior? A good welcome is more than a sign, a handshake and a smile. A good welcome is more than everyone getting along and playing nicely with each other, requiring some people to play small. Public theologian Kate Penney Howard writes, “Welcome isn't what the sign says. Welcome is wh...
