I visited this church on the advice of a trusted friend. I am looking for a smaller, intimate…read morechurch family.
Unfortunately, this was the most unwelcoming church I have ever visited.
I walked in, and there were maybe 30 - 40 people in attendance - TOTAL - so a visitor's presence would have definitely been noticed. NOT ONE PERSON greeted me, not one person said good morning, not one person seemed to notice a new face in their midst. I sat in the middle, towards the front, I was the only one in the entire row, with empty rows ahead and behind me, and as I said, there were not many people in attendance in a church that could probably hold 350 or more.
I let my eyes wander around while I was in my seat, before, during, and after the service, to check out the parishoners and church building, you know? Since the service was so sparsely attended, I had to have been noticed looking around, like I was new to the place. Since I was pretty much front and center, how can they not see a new face in the...well, I was going to say crowd, but that would be too generous a word. I took my time leaving, thinking surely someone would welcome me as a visitor, as I thought maybe their unwelcoming ways might have been an off day, and surely someone will ask me if I have any questions, can they show me around? Nope.
Being a regular attender at another church, I make it my job to look for visitors and make them feel welcome, and invite them back, direct them towards child care or what have you. I most definitely did not feel welcomed at this church.