The Oasis - Jun 21, 2023

     There is so much happening at First Parish this Summer: Attic Treasure Sale this weekend, Fellowship in Action Activities, Storytellers during Coffee hour, Out To Lunch Bunch, Men’s Gathering Barbeque. Please check out all the opportunities in this Oasis and in the June/July newsletter. 
     Recently, we started to invite folks at First Parish to sign up for a nametag. We have a nametag board in the church entrance and a sign up sheet attached to it. I used to think the use of nametags was a mundane and unimportant relic of church life, until I visited  the website www.nametag.com. Their claim, and this is not intended to be humorous, is that a nametag can change your life. I found the following reasons a nametag can be powerful on the website:

“A name tag isn’t just a sticker; it’s a statement. It’s about friendliness, identity, culture and human nature.”

A Name Tag is a Permission Slip
“Wearing a name tag is an invitation to friendliness. It’s a way to open up to others and overcome personal walls. Their primary function is to personalize and humanize each person. Inviting encounters is what they do. And you permit this change to happen every time you put on your name tag.”
A Name Tag is an Engagement Tool
“The hardest part about conversations is getting the ball rolling. That’s why name tags are so great. They are the basic building block of conversation. The sooner you know people’s names, the sooner you feel comfortable around them.”
A Name Tag is a Service
“Sure, you feel dumb when wearing a name tag. It’s uncomfortable. But think about how many people whose lives you just made easier. Like the guy who’s been working down the hall from you for six years but didn’t know how to spell your name until now. (Or) the shy person across the room who didn’t have the courage to walk up and say hello. (How about) the new yoga teacher who had thirty new students, yet only 29 new names to memorize. Whew! How are you practicing mini-sacrifices each day to make other people’s lives (even a LITTLE) easier? What comfort are you willing to forego?”

     Who knew nametags can make such a difference. So, as we continue to strive to be a welcoming, inviting, engaging church, let’s view nametags as a ministry. I encourage you to sign up for a nametag the next time you come to worship. 

Blessings,
Eric