What would be thought of a hostess who lovingly invited guests to her home, only to ignore them or treat them coolly and with unfriendliness upon their arrival? As branch church members, we need to be careful not to commit this error at our church services, Sunday Schools, lectures, or in our Reading Rooms. Most Christian Science churches advertise in a local paper that all are cordially invited to attend the church services and to visit the Reading Room. And the First Reader extends this same invitation from the desk on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Mrs. Eddy devotes Article XVI in the Manual of The Mother Church to the subject of "Welcoming Strangers." Section 2, which is headed "The Local Members' Welcome," reads, "It shall be the duty and privilege of the local members of The Mother Church to give their seats, if necessary, to strangers who may come to attend the morning services."Man., Art. XVI, Sect. 2; As church members, we should let our love shine forth to welcome the newcomer within our gates and make him feel comfortable and wanted.
Sometimes a belief of shyness or self-consciousness holds us back from greeting strangers. Actually this is a subtle form of selfishness. We are so aware of our own personal selves that we are afraid we shall make a wrong impression or subject ourselves to criticism. By forgetting self and giving our attention to the good we can do for others, we can overcome this handicap of self-consciousness and find joy in lovingly welcoming guests to our church.
