The Welcome team is back in action and working to make “Olivet, The Welcome Place” even more welcome! We have tackled several projects that we hope will foster a welcoming environment. This spring, three high top tables with stools were placed in the Welcome Center area to encourage lingering, all of them with bud vases for just a little touch of nature’s beauty. Barb Myers and Karen Hamilton are maintaining the bud vases.
Sara Martin set up a QR code linked to SignUpGenius for parishioners to indicate their willingness to bring a Sunday treat. The QR code is displayed at the Mark Johnson Memorial Coffee Bar. Click here or visit www.olivetsylvania.org/welcome-team to access the Sunday treats sign up form. You can choose to bring treats for the 9 AM service or 11 AM The Vine service. We are grateful to those that accept the task of bringing a Sunday treat. Homemade or store bought – we will consume both with equal enjoyment!
Warren Wright is still our faithful Barista – making coffee as well as opening the church on Sundays. Mary Glover has taken on the task of maintaining the bar – refreshing supplies and cleaning up afterwards. The coffee bar includes tea and hot chocolate using a hot water spigot on the machine.
Furniture has been ordered for the area at the top of the basement stairs and for the atrium. The furniture currently in those spaces served us well and has survived for 27 years. We were able to get a very good price from Veh and Son Furniture for appropriate furniture. The funds have come from private donations and have not come from the church budget. It is our hope that you approve of the furniture we have chosen and find it comfortable and suited for casual gatherings. A huge thank you to Michelle Lane, who drew up a plan for the furniture and advised us on choices!
The furniture currently in the space at the top of the basement stairs will be available to rehome. If anyone in the congregation wants it, please notify Tina Johnson or Shannon Walker. Otherwise, resources will be used to donate it for use elsewhere. None of the relocated furniture has been taken to the dump with the exception of two chairs which were quite unstable. That which was usable was taken for use by grateful individuals (who provided their own muscle and truck) either for a small sum (when the furniture had some value) or for free (when the furniture was considered to have little value).
Mandy Tetreau and her father, Rick Breitzman, have kindly donated quilts that were made by her late mother, Shirley, for display in the atrium. The donation is much appreciated and will enhance our space.
First service greeters are back! Thank you to Jill Hepner for organizing and executing the plan.
The Welcome Team has taken on managing the display in the glass case closest to the Welcome Center. For the first display, we chose to highlight the Operation Shoe Box project run by Deb Shock. Thanksgiving items were recently added and the display will change over to a Christmas theme after Thanksgiving courtesy of Sue Hamen and her collection of Temari Balls.
We are in the process of planning bulletin boards; one by the Welcome Center and one by the Christian Life Center that highlight various ministries/initiatives/groups in which to engage. Watch for that coming soon.
We hope that our efforts are noticed and appreciated around the building. Olivet has had a tag line of “The Welcome Place”. We want to foster an atmosphere of welcome for visitors, church-shoppers and our members.
Best wishes for a warm and happy holiday season!
Tina Johnson and the Welcome Team
Terry Lovett, Cherie Bischoff, Sandy Browning, Cathy Sanderson, Barb Myers, Sue Hamen, Karen Hamilton, Linda Burnett