Does your church do this?

[HeDied4U]

Currently my wife and I attend a non-denominational church that a friend of hers invited us to.

The service begins with a song or two, and then the worship leader invites others to "turn to those around you and greet them." This, of course, consists of handshakes, and in the case of some folks, hugging. I am not a big "people person," so this practice kind of turns me off, although my wife thinks it's great.

The few Baptist churches I've been a part of ( 2 SBC and 1 not sure what flavor Baptist it was ) never did this.

I was just wondering if this was just a nondenominational type of thing, or if there are Baptist churches that practice this as well, but I've just never been in one of those (yet)?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Tom Bryant]

We do the meet and greet like that. Many like it and a few don't. We vary it depending on the size of the crowd.

 

[ktn4eg]

We've always done this way of greeting those who attend our services. We especially enjoy greeting visitors.

Granted, not every one participates for various reasons (in my case, my limited mobility due to a recent stroke prevents me from doing a lot of moving around in confined spaces such as church pews). Whether a person choose to participate is up to that individual.

I do enjoy it when my friends come around and shake my hand....It makes me feel that I'm welcome.

I guess this is just way to show that we're a loving church! :thumbsup:

( www.lighthouseministries.org )

 

[Salty]

Many Baptist churches do the meet and greet.

I do not like it, in fact I just about despise it.

and here is why.

Sure some person shakes my hand during meet and greet - why - because they were told to.

But when service is over that same individual doesn't even give me a second look - so to me that means they really weren't interested me, therefore they only shook my hand previously because they had to.

 

[DaChaser1]

Currently my wife and I attend a non-denominational church that a friend of hers invited us to.

The service begins with a song or two, and then the worship leader invites others to "turn to those around you and greet them." This, of course, consists of handshakes, and in the case of some folks, hugging. I am not a big "people person," so this practice kind of turns me off, although my wife thinks it's great.

The few Baptist churches I've been a part of ( 2 SBC and 1 not sure what flavor Baptist it was ) never did this.

I was just wondering if this was just a nondenominational type of thing, or if there are Baptist churches that practice this as well, but I've just never been in one of those (yet)?

Thanks in advance for your input.

We practice same thing, usually song leader asks us to greet people around us, welcoming them to church...

have NOT had the command to give each other a "Holy kiss" as of yet!

 

[gb93433]

A friend of mine pastors a church that has a 1 hr. 45 min. service. During the first hour is singing and public prayer. Other than the time he leads in prayer he goes around the congregation and greets people where they are standing. If he greets someone and they are hurting he prays for them. The first hour is followed by the sermon that is about 45 minutes. The church runs around 600 in attendance.

 

[Oldtimer]

Many Baptist churches do the meet and greet.

I do not like it, in fact I just about despise it.

and here is why.

Sure some person shakes my hand during meet and greet - why - because they were told to.

But when service is over that same individual doesn't even give me a second look - so to me that means they really weren't interested me, therefore they only shook my hand previously because they had to.

Guess it depends on the church. Depends on who's doing the meeting and greeting. It's one of several things that led us to change our demonations and join a Baptist church. The smiles and welcomes were warm and sincere. And they still are, as the right (in heart) people are in the right place to make people feel at home in the house of our Lord.

Back to the OP. We do this from time to time. And, the entire congregation will sometimes join hands during the closing prayer. It isn't "routine" as that leads to going-through-the-motions. As in it becoming a ritual, rather than a heart-felt moment of fellowship. IMHO, it's fairly easy to see in smiles and feel in hands how much is sincere and how much is forced.

 

[preacher4truth]

Many Baptist churches do the meet and greet.

I do not like it, in fact I just about despise it.

and here is why.

Sure some person shakes my hand during meet and greet - why - because they were told to.

But when service is over that same individual doesn't even give me a second look - so to me that means they really weren't interested me, therefore they only shook my hand previously because they had to.

Perhaps it's because the person had already shaken hands with you?

 

[preacher4truth]

Currently my wife and I attend a non-denominational church that a friend of hers invited us to.

The service begins with a song or two, and then the worship leader invites others to "turn to those around you and greet them." This, of course, consists of handshakes, and in the case of some folks, hugging. I am not a big "people person," so this practice kind of turns me off, although my wife thinks it's great.

The few Baptist churches I've been a part of ( 2 SBC and 1 not sure what flavor Baptist it was ) never did this.

I was just wondering if this was just a nondenominational type of thing, or if there are Baptist churches that practice this as well, but I've just never been in one of those (yet)?

Thanks in advance for your input.

I always worry about spreading colds, flu, other things, even moreso since we have a baby. We always have some purell handy!

- Peace

 

[mandym]

I have never been in a church that did not do it.

 

[saturneptune]

Handshaking is part of our service. I have no problem with it, as the Presbyterian Church I grew up in was so stoic, cold, and regimented. When I have a cold, I do not shake hands, as a good percentage of the congregation is over 75. I also avoid shaking hands of people who appear to have a cold.

 

[Salty]

... And, the entire congregation will sometimes join hands during the closing prayer. ....

That is a big no-no with me. I only hold hands with my wife. I will not hold hands with anybody else.

and don't even get me started on hugging...

Perhaps it's because the person had already shaken hands with you?

Negative- During the M&G they usually just give a quick handshake,say hi then turn to someone else.

I would be more than glad to have someone engage in a conversation with me after service.

But what I noticed is that after service, most people do greet others - those in their cliques!

 

[gb93433]

When people are in the battle together the sense of community and gratitude deepens.

 

[jbh28]

We do it at our church during the AM worship service. It's usually when the choir comes down. I don't mind it per se. However, I personally wouldn't include it if I was the one organizing the service. Get to church early and greet. Stay afterwards and greet. Lunch isn't so important to get to that we have to just run out of the church.

 

[preacher4truth]

Negative- During the M&G they usually just give a quick handshake,say hi then turn to someone else.

I see nothing wrong with this. This is typically how it's done, people shake a hand, then shake another. I think you want quality time in a quick meet and greet.

I would be more than glad to have someone engage in a conversation with me after service.

But what I noticed is that after service, most people do greet others - those in their cliques!

I've noticed it's typically hard to NOT get engaged with lengthy conversations after church, and that some people don't give others a chance to say hello, or whatever.

As far as cliques, that does happen, but some people are attracted to others and get comfortable and become closer to those persons. That's OK too, I don't see it as necessarily a negative.

 

[freeatlast]

Currently my wife and I attend a non-denominational church that a friend of hers invited us to.

The service begins with a song or two, and then the worship leader invites others to "turn to those around you and greet them." This, of course, consists of handshakes, and in the case of some folks, hugging. I am not a big "people person," so this practice kind of turns me off, although my wife thinks it's great.

The few Baptist churches I've been a part of ( 2 SBC and 1 not sure what flavor Baptist it was ) never did this.

I was just wondering if this was just a nondenominational type of thing, or if there are Baptist churches that practice this as well, but I've just never been in one of those (yet)?

Thanks in advance for your input.

It is not a denominational thing. It is a local church thing. Some do it and some don't. Mine does it although not every Sunday. The hugging is usually limited to those we know.
The opposite is to enter a church as a visitor and no one even speak to you.

 

[freeatlast]

That is a big no-no with me. I only hold hands with my wife. I will not hold hands with anybody else.

and don't even get me started on hugging...



Negative- During the M&G they usually just give a quick handshake,say hi then turn to someone else.

I would be more than glad to have someone engage in a conversation with me after service.

But what I noticed is that after service, most people do greet others - those in their cliques!

WOW!

 

[gb93433]

That is a big no-no with me. I only hold hands with my wife. I will not hold hands with anybody else.and don't even get me started on hugging...

Not even your kids?

 

[saturneptune]

I must say I am surprised at this much opposition to this. Maybe if you had grown up in a church for 18 years with frowns, stearn looks, no interaction, and a library type atmosphere, you would appreciate the mid service greetings. It reminds me of opinions I have heard expressed here and elsewhere about the end of service invitation being a sales job and not Holy Spirit lead conviction. Maybe if you had grown up in a church that finished the sermon, had a final hymn, and everyone quietly exited like army soldiers, you would look at the invitation as an way to express your convictions before the Lord.

 

[abcgrad94]

We do this often in our church. Our church is SO friendly that we have to "remind" people to stop visiting because the service is starting. They take their greeting time seriously! We do this partly so that there is less talking during the actual service, and partly because so many of our folks are always late and don't have time to say hi to those around them before church starts.

We have stopped doing it every Sunday, though, because people want to use it for 10 minutes to catch up on the latest news/conversation, and that sometimes distracts from the actual worship time. My church would be happy to spend 30 minutes yakking if we didn't cut the greeting time shorter!