Learning from Wegmans

So, today I zipped out to Wegmans at about 3:30 to pick up stuff to make Lemon-Garlic Chicken Noodle Soup for our Staff Tuesday Lunch Bunch*  tomorrow. I am at church until 9:30 or so tonight (supervising the building for Youth Advantage Basketball), so I wanted to make a run for it before Kathy Figini left for the day. I had my list. Did my shopping. Chatted with the check-out dude about dill and leeks. Headed out to my car.

Aw geez. Can you picture pouring rain? Can you picture 47 degrees and pouring rain? 47 degrees, pouring rain, NO coat?47 degrees, pouring rain, NO coat, parked at the far end of the lot**? 47 degrees, pouring rain, NO coat, parked at the far end of the lot and BEATING myself up about what an idiot I am?

It was not pretty. I lowered my head to forge into that rain when I heard a voice: “Ma’am, can I walk you to your car?” It was a Wegmans employee (WE), young man with a smile on his face and an umbrella in his hand.

S: That would be awesome. (We start to walk)

WE: So, how’s your day going?

S: Pretty good–how about yours?

WE: Not bad. I just walk around in the rain with an umbrella. How hard can that be? (Warm smile. We arrive at the car). Can I help you load up?

S: That would be great. (Open the trunk. He keeps the cart from rolling away with his foot, holds the umbrella with one hand and hands bags to me with the other…sort of a mini-assembly line. Takes us just a minute to load it up).

WE: Teamwork–always good. I’ll get the cart.

S: Thank you so much. You made my day.

WE: Glad I could do that. Stay dry and drive safe.

I went from kicking my cold and shivering self all the way down the parking lot to my car to having a sweet little conversation and feeling taken care of.

I think we at First Trinity could learn from Wegmans. Don’t you? What behaviors could we employ so that someone showing up and feeling (a little) like an idiot would come away having had a sweet little conversation, connecting with God and feeling taken care of? Any ideas? Feel free to leave them in the comments…

*Every month or two we share lunch at church, our awesome Preschool staff and our church staff. It’s a good thing.

**I always park far away in an effort to get closer to walking 10,000 steps a day.

 

Sunday Night Mind Dump

• I went to 5:30 service this week because I was leaving the 11:15 service early to go to a birthday party. I just absolutely LOVED being there. The community feel at that service is so special. The music was great (including a little choir of Bonnie Gordon, Kathy Figini, Anne and Martha Miller and Sue Brese). The sermon–so powerful and needed in my heart.
• Best quote of the day, for me: “Pride makes con men of all of us.” Amen.
• Mary Ann, from the Bible BIGS course told me that the concepts from the class keep rolling around in her head: “I’m loving it,” she said. God’s Word is alive.
• I loved brothers Jared and Jacob at the 11:15 service children’s message who, when I said, “Being humble is understanding that God is in charge of us…” shook their heads and said, “He’s not in charge of ME” and “Me, either.” CRACKED ME UP. A fine example of pride.
• Picture of Servant Leadership: Jason and Tim Stone who spent more than a half an hour cleaning up an overflowing toilet in the Men’s room.  All the sights and smells that you can imagine. Just willing to do it. Thanks, you guys.
• I got the chance to meet the people in Pastor Whited’s Discovery Class. That’s the class we have if you are interested in membership at First Trinity. LOTS of people in there!! I loved meeting them and I am praying that we will find a way to help them continue on their next step in their walk with Jesus.  I thought it was really great that Kathy Gibson (A-Team) and Paul Gerlach (Life Groups Team Leader) were there, getting to know these folks.
• We had a family come for the first time to the 7pm service and they loved it so much that they brought their kids to Kingdom Quest today. Pete Bulger who is a magnet for new people and enjoys welcoming them so much, connected Cathy Mongielo and me to them. The dad mentioned how much they like it that the kids stay in worship with them.
• The foot-stomping trick with Pastor Chuck at 5:30 and 11:15 was very fun. One of the things I love most about First Trinity is the lovely playfulness that is so much a part of us.

 

Sunday Night Mind Dump

Here’s my take on today:

• Tired Sue today. Lots of up front time for me this last week. I love it, but it also makes me tired.
• Had a fantastic prayer time with my PIT Crew. It helped a lot. After I shared prayer needs for Transformation Ministries and for me, we prayed and when we raised our heads after we were done, Michelle Glica, eyes sparkling, sighed and said, “Mmmmmm. That was good.” I agree.
• Was so awesome to see this fantastic Baby Shower the youth had for Jason and Jaime today. 60 kids and adults were there. To me, the kids looked like they were having such fun. Jason and Jaime were “showered” with a very cool video camera and they had used it to record the kids giving J & J baby advice. Baby Addison is already awfully loved. Kudos to Pam Stone and Dona Trautwein who led the charge on this one.
• Who knew Tops sells breakfast pizza? Man, the piece I had was delicious.
• I thought my children’s message was weak today.
• Lots of good leftover vibes from “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Bible But Were Afraid to Ask” yesterday. Jim Ruch said, “Good job, Sue. I understood every word you said yesterday.” Wooooooo hoooooooo!! Can’t wait for the Short Course starting on Tuesday (not too late to sign-up).
• I am cranky about the Bills tonight. The offensive line, especially.
• Learned some more kids’ names today: Nick, for one.
• Was thankful for Jennie and Morgan who stepped up to the plate to help with ushering today at 11:15. Ushers and greeters are BIG TIME on my list this week.
• They are working seven days a week on the new Tim Horton’s on my corner. I think it’s going to be up and running before you know it!
• Susan Whited needs me to order more workbooks for the parenting teens course she’s teaching. Awesome!!

 

Information-For-All

Here’s my epiphany about the Welcome Center…although it needs to be very welcoming, the primary function of the Welcome Center is not “greeting” people (that’s the primary function of greeters), the primary function of the Welcome Center is INFORMATION–for all of us, including guest and visitors. So, imagine, with me these scenarios:

• A long-time member who loves to golf catches the last part of an announcement in worship about a Camp Pioneer Golf Tournament–but misses most of it. He stops at the Welcome Center and they have all the information he needs to join the tournament.
• A regular visitor finally decides to try out the Discover First Trinity class.  She knows there are classes but has really never been into that part of the building. The Welcome Center provides her with a description of the class, a map of the building and hands off to a greeter who walks her to class and introduces her to Pastor Chuck.
• A parent of a Cornerstone youth knows there is a youth event this week, but can’t remember what time it’s at or where they’re meeting. He stops at the Welcome Center and they all the information handy.
• A man traveling on business looking for a place to worship (found us on the internet) stops by the Welcome Center on his way in and is given a welcome packet specifically for those who are “passing through”. He makes a great connection with God while away from his family and his home church.
• A long time member would like to communicate something to the members of the Ministry Council, but doesn’t remember who the current President is. The Welcome Center folks can look that up and even give some contact information.
• A first time guest stops at the Welcome Center, asks where the rest rooms are and  receives a guest packet on their way into church with “Top Five Ways to Get Connected at First Trinity”  and an explanation of the symbols in the sanctuary. The place is crowded, but an usher helps her find a seat, asking some people to move over so she can sit down.

So much of this is NOT about dividing us up: guests on one side, members on the other. It is about the Welcome Center serving ALL of us with accurate and friendly information.

Want to help? We need more Welcome Center volunteers for the 8:45 (Sunday) and 7pm (Saturday) services. Leave me a comment and we’ll get you connected with Tracy Bramwell (Welcome Center Team Leader).