You are welcome here at St. Paul's UMC

WELCOME!

All are welcome here. But we extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, lesbian, transgender, straight, filthy rich, dirt poor, or "Yo no habla Ingles." We extend a special welcome to crying new-borns and excited toddlers. We welcome those who are skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds.

We welcome you if you can sing like Pavarotti or can't carry a note in a bucket. You're welcome here if you're "just browsing," "just woke up," or just got out of jail. We don't care if you're more Methodist than the Wesleys or haven't been in a church since the last funeral you attended.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, beer chuggers, vegetarians, or junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you're having problems, you're down in the dumps, or if you don't like "organized religion," we've been there too.

If you blew all your offering money last night playing online poker, you're welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don't work, can't spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.

We welcome those who are inked, pierced, both, or neither. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid, or got lost and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts ... In short, we welcome you!

- Adapted from the welcome of Coventry Cathedral