Mundane Greatness

It has been said that it is the "mundane" that makes us great. 

Part of my role at church is to host the weekend services from the front, which includes sharing the announcements.  Though the announcements vary from week to week, there is a part of the script that stays consistent.  Here is a sampling of what is said every weekend which includes a specific welcome to first time guests and an offering to disclaimer for them as well.

"If this is your first time here, we want to say a special welcome and we want to encourage you to please stop by Guest Services to pick up a gift we have for you ... And at this time we are going to continue to worship through our giving.  For those of who you who consider Journey your home this is a regular part of our worship expression, however if you are guest, please do not feel obligated to participate.  Just simply let the bags pass on by."

Now I have been hosting the services regularly for 12 years and I believe I have forgotten to say the offering disclaimer three times.  On each occasion the person bringing someone approached me after the service to inquire on why I didn't mention it.  On one occasion someone said that one of their invitees, who was concerned that churches are only about money, was assured that they need not worry about that -- in fact they even go so far as to let you know not to be concerned about it.  Needless to say that they were really bummed when I forgot to say it.

I was reminded of this importance of the mundane yesterday as an usher thanked me at the conclusion of our service for the announcements I fo. He continued that though it is somewhat mundane (his exact word) he understands how important it is for those coming for the first time.  He further explained as someone, who is relatively new to our church, how import it was for him to hear those words in the early part of his journey.

This prodded in the following ways ...
1. That the simple, seemingly routine acts of service can make a difference, therefore we need to make sure that we do them well.
2. Not to get too infatuated with the latest and greatest to where we lose sight of the fundamentals that got us there.
3. That we need to take time to celebrate the mundane. More often than not we celebrate only home runs, failing to acknowledge the single before makes the home run count for two runs instead of one.
4. Remember just because it old and tired for us, it is new for somebody else.  Therefore we need to be continually reminded to see thing through the new person's eyes.

Comments

[Alex]

LOL when I read it was an usher that mentioned mundane! Great insights shared, things we should always remember.