All Are Welcome Who Come In Peace - 8.25.24

All Are Welcome Who Come In Peace - 8.25.24

1. Holy God who Is Wisdom, f ill us with understanding and knowledge, that we may act as instruments of your loving desire for creation, working with you to transform our conceit into concern for others, our fear into love, our violence into peace, and our brokenness into wholeness. Amen. OPENING PRAYER

2. SUNDAY // AUGUST 25 All Are Welcome – Deacon Godsey

3. VINTAGE’S CORE VALUES

4. VINTAGE’S CORE VALUES Welcome to greet the arrival of (a person, guests, etc.)  with pleasure or kindly courtesy; to receive or accept with pleasure; regard as pleasant or good

5. ROMANS 15:7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

6. VINTAGE’S CULTURE Where ALL Means ALL. NO Asterisk .

7. VINTAGE’S CORE VALUES Welcome To the communion table… To serving in ministry… To Membership… To baptism… To marry…

8. VINTAGE’S CORE VALUES Welcome Regardless of economic status… Regardless of ethnicity or “race”… “ ” of political leaning… “ ” of fan loyalty…” “ ” of gender identity… “ ” of dis/agreeing…

9. Someone walks in to service and flicks people in the face? BUT… “Can I flick your face?”

10. Someone walks in to service and flicks people in the face? Someone stands up and starts verbally disrupting the service? BUT…

11. Someone walks in to service and flicks people in the face? Someone stands up and starts verbally disrupting the service? Someone refuses to honor other’s boundaries, privately or publicly? BUT…

12. Someone walks in to service and flicks people in the face? Someone stands up and starts verbally disrupting the service? Someone refuses to honor other’s boundaries, privately or publicly? Someone makes regular threats against members of the church, privately or publicly? BUT…

13. Someone walks in to service and flicks people in the face? Someone stands up and starts verbally disrupting the service? Someone refuses to honor other’s boundaries, privately or publicly? Someone makes regular threats against members of the church, privately or publicly? Someone becomes a threat to the peace and safety of others? BUT…

14. “(Congressman) Gerald Ford is so dumb, he can't walk and chew gum at the same time.” LYNDON JOHNSON

15. SO WHAT DO WE DO? We walk and chew gum We maintain a welcoming spirit as a community We prioritize the protection and safety of the community

16. SO WHAT DO WE DO? We walk and chew gum We maintain a welcoming spirit as a community We prioritize the protection and safety of the community We acknowledge more than one thing can be true at the same time We do all we can to help all We draw healthy boundaries when necessary

17. “ ‘Where ALL are welcome. NO asterisk.’ and ‘All are welcome who come in peace’ are not contradictory statements; the one expresses the underlying default of our church culture, while the other clarifies our commitment to do the best we can to establish protective boundaries for the sake of all who call Vintage ‘home’ .” DEACON GODSEY

18. Source of life, fill us with love and deliver us from darkness to light. Surround us in the circle of your protection, that, secure in your sustaining power, we may find the wisdom and strength to challenge injustice in ways that honor you, and to extend grace and mercy wherever and whenever we can. Amen. CLOSING PRAYER