KQ Greeter Blog

Greeter Update

February 14/15, 2009

Closed Classrooms- If a classroom is closed and a parent wishes to check their child into the next service they cannot check them in during that service.  They must wait until the next check in hour to check in their child(ren).

Check in Times- Coming soon check in will be closing 10 minutes earlier.  Please keep watching for the official date of the change.   We will be informing the parents so they will be aware of the change. 

Recruiting this weekend- Don’t forget that this weekend is our Kid’s Quest recruiting!  If you have a Greeter or Kid’s Quest shirt we encourage you to wear it during your shift.  Also, we will be passing our stickers to all of our volunteers saying: “Times are Changing. Ask me how.” Keeping the message vague, we hope to reach parents and provide a platform to share how they can partner with us. The following are suggested responses:

• Times are changing, and now more than ever it’s important to influence the next generation (children) for Christ. Together we (KQ) can partner with you (parent/guardian) in the spiritual development of your child.  
• We’d love to have you come join us once a month and observe the dynamic worship and interactive lessons OR Take a moment to look over the take-home materials to see how to incorporate the lesson/virtue throughout the week.

Weekly Devotional

            Love looks different to everyone.  It comes in different languages, gestures, words and actions.  Some people can express it best in the lyrics of a song, while others can’t express it at all.  Some people view it as quality time or doing something special for someone, while others view it as a great big hug or a kind word.  Love’s individuality is one of the things that make it so great. 

            God wired each one of us differently, but He knew that we all need love.  It’s is by an amazing privilege to love and to be loved.  True love, like God’s love, is beyond compare.  Just a few ways that God described it in 1 Corinthians is “patient, kind, not boastful, not pride, not self seeking, never fails.”  All of us have the ability to experience this love from God himself. 

            God’s love, unlike human love, is perfect.  There are no mistakes, no moments of doubt, no irrational behavior.  It’s 100% perfect unconditional love and He wants to show you how much He loves you everyday.   If you ever feel like you need someone to love you and wrap themselves around you, even when you least deserve it, turn to our God in heaven.  Let Him show you what perfect love looks like and how to express that same love back to others around you.

Greeter Update

February 7/8, 2008

Weekly News

Check In Times- In the next couple of weeks we will be changing the times that check in is open.  The start time will remain the same, but we will be closing the stations 10 minutes earlier.  All check in stations will open 20 minutes before service and will close 30 minutes into service.  Please keep checking your updates for an official launch date.

Kid’s Quest Recruiting- Our next Kid’s Quest recruiting will be the weekends of February 14/15 and 21/22.  Please wear your greeter t shirt if you have one or any Kid’s Quest shirt you may have.

Weekly Devotional

            I started a new devotional book this week.  It’s focused on all the women of the Bible.  Every day is a different women and what we can learn from each of their stories.  As you can imagine, Eve is the first women discussed in the book.  The author asked that you read a few verses in chapter 1 and then chapters 2-4.  Now normally (and I was tempted this time too), I would’ve just skipped all that.  I mean I’ve read the story of Adam and Eve so many times, starting back when I was a little girl.  What could I possibly learn that was different this time?

            Well, never challenge God with that statement.  There was a verse that definitely stood out to me.  It was right after Adam and Eve had eaten from the forbidden tree.  God came into the Garden of Eden and walked beside them, watched them place blame on everyone else in the situation, and then delivered them their consequences.  But that’s not what caught my attention.  My amazement came after this scene, when Genesis says that the Lord God made them coverings so they wouldn’t be naked. 

            Ok, wait a minute.  The two people God created in His image and who He loved more than anything just deliberately disobeyed Him and He offered to help them out?  To help them cover the nakedness so they wouldn’t feel shame?  O yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is the kind of God we serve.  I mean my mouth is wide open just thinking about it again. 

            I am constantly amazed by our God’s grace, provision and love.  Not matter what, the fact that He loves us more than anything always prevails.  I picture Him as that loving Father who when His child makes a mistake, firmly corrects him, then holds his child in His arms for as long as needed.  Please take some time with me this week and stand in amazement at our loving Father, who will always be there for you, even when you don’t deserve it. 

“The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”

Genesis 3:22

Greeter Update

Jan/Feb 31^st/1^st

^{Weekly News}

^{Saturday 1A move- This weekend marks the first weekend that all of Elementary will move to 1A.  All Greeter stations will stay the same, and all maps have been updated.  Please make sure families are aware of the change.}

^{Class assignments- A child must consistently come to a service team/ class to be put into a small group.  This may take up to 8 weeks.  You may still write the requested small group on the enrollment solutions sheet, but please advise parents that this may take some time.  You may also point it out to them on the Enrollment Form.} 

^{Weekly Devotional}

                ^{It’s great to feel completely comfortable isn’t it?  It’s the feeling of being able to walk into a room where you know everyone inside.  It’s walking into a meeting knowing everyone is on your side.  It’s performing a task that you know you’re good at.  Comfort is a good thing most of the time, but when do we need to be cautious?  We need to be cautious of when comfort turns to complacency.} 

                ^{Complacency is a dangerous attitude for a Christian to have.  As we know, we are fallen individuals; we will never be good enough for God on our own.  This doesn’t mean we stay satisfied with our sinful nature.  It means we do our best to daily surrender our lives to Him and offer up ourselves working canvases always willing to grow in our knowledge of Him.} 

                ^{As a believer, complacency should really bother us.  There should be nothing more frustrating then being stagnant in our faith.  This should be a healthy fear that pushes us to constantly be growing and learning in our faith.  God is very clear to the women of Jerusalem in Isaiah when He says that the complacent women will tremble and fail.  God will surely not let you stay stagnant for long.}

                ^{I can truly speak to this statement.  As someone who lived a complacent Christian life for many years, I watched as my God never let me enjoy it.  Sometimes things were ok, but I was very quickly taken to the bottom.  For years I never understand why I had such a “tough” time with my faith.  It seemed like more of a headache to involve my faith.  DUH!  God doesn’t enjoy complacency.  Little did I know at the time, that I was lukewarm.  My faith was a crutch.  I was leaning on it when I was hurting, but when life was great I wasn’t growing, learning, and striving to know my God better.} 

                ^{What a realization it is when you realize how detrimental complacency can be.  I still struggle with it, as we all do.  Now, it really scares me when I realize I’m starting to get into the pattern of complacency again.  It’s easy to get too comfortable with where we are.  It’s easy to stay stagnant, but be aware of God’s warning.  Push as hard as you can to fight complacency and continually seek a stronger, deeper, and active faith.} 

^{“You women who are so complacent,}

  ^{rise up and listen to me;}

       ^{you daughters who feel secure,}

       ^{hear what I have to say!}

 ^{In little more than a year}

       ^{you who feel secure will tremble;}

       ^{the grape harvest will fail,}

       ^{and the harvest of fruit will not come.”}

                  ^{Isaiah 32:9-10}

Kid’s Quest Greeter Update

January 24/25

Weekly News

Saturday 1A Move Change!- There is a change of plans for the Saturday Elementary move to 1A.  The move date has been pushed back until January 31^st.  All the details are still the same, the classrooms will now move a week later.  Sorry for all the confusion.

Key Tag Replacement- We are no longer charging a $1 for lost key tags.  Parents may fill out a replacement envelope for a new key tag, but do not need to include any money.

Weekly Devotional

            There is nothing I hate more than feeling like a child.  I grew up with two sisters, 10 and 12 yrs older than me, so you can image that every time they did something fun I had to hear the words “you’re too young.”  I have grown to resent those words, and more than the words, the feeling of being younger than everyone else.  For years I tried to refute it by saying that I was grown up enough and was able to handle adult situations. 

            So, it should be no surprise to me when I resent being corrected and harbor bitter feelings towards “learning a lesson.”  Ok, I know what you’re thinking… “woah, pride check Erin!…” and that’s exactly the problem.  Pride is a terrible thing to loose your grip on.  It can be such a hindrance and not to mention, make you look like a fool.  It is pride that keeps us from learning from those older and wiser than we are.  It is pride that keeps us from growing and gaining knowledge of our Savior. 

The tricky thing with pride is that we tend to make excuses for its existence without realizing we’re just disguising our pride.  We refuse to acknowledge that we are the ones at fault.  We can chalk it up to being “mistreated, condemned, judged, humiliated etc. “ all the while, we are the ones lacking in the humility to admit when we were wrong and needed correction.  But God is clear on his feelings regarding pride, and they are not light and fuzzy feelings.  In fact, he says it leads to destruction and disgrace, as long as accompanying many more unpleasant behaviors. 

Pride has ruined nations, kings, leaders, marriages, and friendships, just to name a few.  It can make even the strongest leader weak and the smartest man ignorant.  It is a deadly poison that needs to be constantly kept in check.  I encourage you to pray for awareness of this in your life.  Pray for the ability to see pride a mile away and to avoid it and humble yourself before the Lord.  Pride is as sneaky as can be and, like a fire, if not controlled will burn everything in it’s path.  As far as I’m concerned, I will take the little bit of embarrassment or fear we experience with humility over destruction any day!  I pray God always reveals to me my selfish pride so I am able to quickly allow him to change my view of a prideful situation and humble myself to his teaching. 

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

       but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

Greeter Update

January 17/18

Weekly News

Saturday 1A Move- Starting the weekend of January 24^th all of elementary (K-5) will be permanently meeting on IA.  The Greeter stations will remain the same, so please advise families that they need to take their children up to 1A for Kid’s Quest.

12:30 K/1- Beginning this weekend we will be closing the Kindergarten and 1^st grade classrooms when they have reached 22 children per room.  The classrooms will appear grey when closed, just like nursery and preschool classrooms.  Please do not make any exceptions for children wanted to go into a closed K/1 classroom.  The parents have been warned of the classrooms maxing out and are aware of the change.

Devotional

          Last night I reread the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego.  I can’t even remember the last time I really read that story.  There is such a difference when you hear the stories as a kid and then again as an adult.  As a child, you are wide eyed, amazed by this spectacular God that you are just beginning to learn about.  As an adult, the story doesn’t lose it’s wide eyed appeal, but it does go a little bit deeper.

          What stuck out to me in this story was the response of the three men when Nebuchadnezzar told them that if they didn’t bow to his gold statue that he would throw them into a fiery furnace.  They were confident that God would save them, but the second part of their answer is what stuck in my mind.  They stated that “But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  Ok, now to me, this is totally noble. 

          How often are we circumstantial with God? We go to Him in times of need and believe He can answer our prayer, but how do we react when He doesn’t.  Do we trust Him enough to know that His answer is the best answer? Or do we immediately get angry and blame Him for not being there, or not caring enough?  I wish I could say I was on the noble end, but it has to be a conscious effort on my part to give the response of those noble men. I still rely so much on self and my own intentions that when things don’t go as plans I get pouty and negative instead of trusting that the Sovereign God is in control.  I challenge us all to take life’s curve balls as blessings from God.  Thank Him for throwing you into the fire and for giving you another chance to trust in His almighty work. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

Daniel 3:28

Greeter Update

January 3^rd and 4^th, 2009

Saturday- This Saturday, Erin will be stepping in for Lorena while she is still on vacation.  Please let her know if there are any changes to Saturday’s schedule.

Class Assignments- If a child is defaulting to an “on deck” classroom and they are enrolled in our program, please write their information on the enrollment solutions page so we may assign them to a permanent small group.

Closed Classrooms- If a classroom is shaded grey, this means it is closed.  We can under no circumstances put them in another classroom and then just tell them to attend the closed classroom anyway, even if the child is a regularly assigned to that class.  We only close classrooms when the volunteer to child ratio is at the maximum and it is no longer safe for our children.  We don’t want to compromise the safety of our children.  If you receive push back from the parent, please let Erin, Lorena or your Greeter Manager know and they will handle the situation.

Devotional

            Wow, I just wrote 2009 for the first time!  How crazy is that!  As I look back on the past year, I have so many things to be thankful to the Lord for.  He has so richly blessed me in more ways that I can even comprehend.  I know that we normally look at the New Year as a time to have new beginnings and to move on to bigger and better things, but I’d like to do the opposite. 

            As I reflect on the past year of my life it wasn’t all cupcakes and roses, but God is infinitely faithful.  He challenged me in so many ways and through those challenges I was able to take steps of faith to do His service.  Some of the scariest decisions I ever had to make, when accompanied by the Lord’s gentle assurance, gave me rewards I never could’ve fathomed if I hadn’t taken the leap of faith. 

            This year had many moments of absolute frustration as the Enemy, not so slyly, tried to ruin the best blessing the Lord had ever given me.  Once again, God is faithful.  He promises to never give us too much that we can’t handle and every trial and tribulation builds perseverance and reliance on Him.  In hindsight, every struggle was preparation for the life the Lord has called me to.  I can’t help but thank Him for every tear and every moment on my knees begging Him to give me the strength I needed. 

            As you begin a brand new year filled with all new celebrations and challenges I encourage you to take a moment to look back on this past year.  What did God teach you?  How can you apply it?  Where do you see His magnificent power at work?  God has a plan and a purpose for everything and everyone, so acknowledge His work as just that… a plan.  Learn from it, grow from it and thank Him for every day that we live by His plan and not our own. 

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”

Hebrews 12: 28-29

Greeter Update

December 27/28

Weekly News

CAC- Creative Arts Club is off until January 3^rd.  Please be aware of this change and inform any parents who may not be aware of the break.

Out of Office- Erin and Lorena will both be out of office Wednesday December 24- Thursday January 1 (although Erin will be in on Sunday the 28^th).  If you have an immediate concern, please contact Claudia DeVuono at claudia.devuono@mcleanbible.org.

Visitors- We are sure to get a lot of visitors this upcoming Sunday.  Please make sure you are following all procedures including, visitor form and LED card.

Devotional

            How much joy there is in Christmas!  When you think about all the things were are celebrating its hard not to get a big smile on your face.  How gracious is our God and how marvelous are His ways!

            First of all there is the obvious, the birth of our Savior.  That’s what Christmas is all about, but when you look into what all that includes it’s impossible not to praise God during this wonderful time.  This is the most incredible display of God’s love to us.  He gave His only Son so that we may be saved from our sin.  That’s a tremendous amount of love. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John3:16

            Christ’s life and death on this earth is also the truest display of reconciliation.  The ultimate broken relationship, between God and man, was restored through His birth and death on the cross.  It’s a reminder that no relationship is too torn that God can not repair it. 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Romans 3:23

            Christmas is also a display of God’s grace for us.  No matter how much we have hurt Him or sinned against Him Christ’s death on the cross is evidence of God’s amazing grace toward each and every one of us. 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:7-9

Last and certainly not least, Christmas is a display of the hope and peace we have when we are followers of Christ.  We are filled with the Spirit and in total surrender to God’s will and sovereignty.  He is the center of our lives and in our salvation we have confidence for eternity. 

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Ephesians 3:12

Pretty cool huh?  I hope this gives you a different perspective on this holiday season and all the ways we, as believers, have to celebrate the birth of our Christ.  Merry Christmas to you all, may God bless your holiday.

Greeter Update

December 20/21

Weekly News

Christmas Eve- If any of you will be here on Christmas Eve and are able to help us escort and show families to their classes, please let me know.  We will not be doing computerized check in, but will like some Greeters to make families to feel more welcome.

Emergency Check In- If a weekend occurs where check in is down, we will be changing over to our Emergency Check In system.  When you are given the call for Emergency Check In from Erin or Lorena, you will need to immediately pull out the Emergency Check In kit, located underneath each check in station.  Each kit contains wristbands, name tags and permanent markers.  Please make sure all families still check in through a greeter.  Issue them one set of wristbands and one nametag per child, and remind them of allergy stickers and asset tags.  Once they have received all these items, they may then take their children to their class.  Also, make sure you are explaining the process to the parents to help them feel more comfortable and informed.

Devotional

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”

Luke 2:10-11

            Sometimes it takes a change in circumstances to slow us down and make us realize the importance of the holidays.  As I’ve mentioned to you before, it has been very difficult for me to get into the Christmas spirit this year.  I usually love the decorating, baking, wrapping, and especially the shopping and family time, but this year I’ve struggled to find joy in the spirit of Christmas. 

            This makes me incredibly disappointed in myself.  I started to think of the things that were different this year.  This just proved to me how out of wack my view of Christmas has been for so many years.  Of course, being a Christian my whole life I’ve always celebrated this holiday as Christ’s birthday.  Now, I’ve noticed that, even if you celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and fully understand the significance of the holiday, your heart can still be out of check. 

            I wonder if we removed all the hoopla from the holiday if it would excite us in the same way.  It’s hard to tell.  I don’t think we’ll ever see a non- commercial Christmas in the USA, but we can check our own families and our own hearts.  What is the main focus of your holiday?  What do you look forward to the most?  What brings you the most joy in the holiday season?  Instead of doing a check to make sure you acknowledge the reason for the season, do a heart check to make sure you’re focused on the reason for the season. 

Greeter Update

December 13/14

Weekly News

Closed Classrooms- Please be aware that if a classroom is closed (it will show up shaded gray) you cannot check the child into another age group.  Make sure we are double checking ages and classes to be sure they are being sent to the right class.  Preschool tends to close the fastest and if a parent would like to volunteer in their classroom, the child can enter the program.  Just make sure you send the parent to Room 1109 to tell a coordinator they are willing to help.  In nursery you can send them to Volunteer Central.  This does not guarantee that the room will open back up, but the coordinators will do their best. 

Christmas Party- Don’t forget to sign up for this year’s Operations Christmas Party!  We are so excited to be “wacky tacky” with you and look forward to seeing you all there.  You can sign up at www.mcleanbible.org/kqevents

Devotional:

          This week, as I decorated for Christmas, I got to put out one of my favorite pieces… my nativity.  As a little girl I always loved to help my mom set up her nativity and now that I have one of my own, it’s even more special.  When I look at my mantle, I can’t help but think what an abnormal scene it is.  I mean, of course there’s baby Jesus in the manger, Mary and Joseph.  That’s pretty normal.  As I start to look at all the other characters in the nativity, I can’t help but chuckle. 

            Let’s start with the obvious, every nativity includes at least some kind of animal, sheep, goats, pigs, you name it, they got it.  Christ was born in a stable.  The animals didn’t’ just leave so He could have some privacy.  No, no, they stayed for the show. 

            Next, let us look at the other humans involved in this scene.  God made His son’s birth known to two groups of people, the shepherds and the wise men.  They are not even close to being similar.  The wise men came with expensive gifts, while the shepherds probably brought just themselves and their sheep.  The wise men followed a star from the east and the shepherds hurried in from the fields after the presence of an angel.  Both had completely different stories, but all had come to worship the Messiah.

            I get a big smile when I think about how God uses such different characters all throughout the Bible to show us His love.  Jesus didn’t come just for the poor, or the rich, or just the weak or the strong.  He came for each and every one of us, big and small.  People in all shapes and sizes need to bow down to His glory.  He had come to save us all, the shepherds and the wise men knew it and so should we!

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12

Greeter Update

December 6/7, 2008

            I know everyone says that Christmas comes faster and faster each year, usually I’m completely ready to bust out the Christmas music in October, this year I’m struggling to listen to it now.  It seems like just yesterday it was summertime.  There is no denying it now that we’re three weeks away, Christmas is upon us. 

            I’ve heard the story of Christ’s birth so many times, but it seems it becomes more amazing every time.  I try not to let myself get immune to the power of the story.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercialism of it all and overlook the story’s incredible details.

            One thing that caught my attention this year is that Christ was born as a baby.  I know you’re all saying “DUH Erin, where have you been?”  Hang with me for a moment.  The next time you have the opportunity, take a good look at a little baby (for some of you, you may not have to go too far).  Look at how tiny, simple, innocent and beautiful they are.  Watch as they yawn, giggle and smile.  There is absolutely nothing about a baby that screams power and might.  Yet, the Savior of the world came in this form.  He was as human as we are all the way down to his baby fingers and toes. 

            It still amazes me that God chose to bring Him into the world this way.  He could have easily arrived in some spectacular way, with fire and loud voices proclaiming His greatness through the heavens, but He didn’t.  Instead, He came in the most innocent, non threatening form, exactly how you and I did.  He was human, in every sense of the word and that baby had come to save the world.  Kings feared Him, crowds booed Him and death couldn’t hold Him.  I bet very few could imagine that that little baby boy would change the world the way He did. 

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:11-12

Weekly News

THIS WEEKEND- Starting this weekend, some children will appear in the “Do Not Check In” classroom. This will be preceded by a letter delivered by mail at the beginning of November as well as a reminder email the week of the deadline with the notification that because their child has attended Kid’s Quest more than three times, according to our program policy, they must have enrolled by December 1st, 2008 in order to continue participating. The letter and email include directions to complete an enrollment.

In order to participate in Kid’s Quest programming, the family will need to complete a paper enrollment form on the spot in order to be checked in. After the enrollment form has been completed and turned in, the child’s classroom may be adjusted as needed

Christmas Eve Service Help- We are in need of help for our Christmas Eve services at the 3, 5 and 7pm services.  There will be no computerized check in, but help is needed to direct parents to class, hand out wristbands and issuing nametags.  Please let Erin know if you are available to help.

Christmas Party- You all will be receiving an invite to our Operations Team Christmas party via email and from Lorena on Sunday.  This year’s theme is “wacky tacky” and should be a ton of fun!  We would love to see all of you there to be able to celebrate the holiday as a team.  Please RSVP at www.mcleanbible.org/kqevents. 

Birthdays this week-

                        December 9^th-         Heather Drach

                        December 12^th-      Mike Hellen