I have usually been the one up front; Sundays, that is, morning and evening. But for a rare few weeks I have been able to visit a variety of churches and chapels; not as a visiting preacher, nor as a sermon-tester, nor even to find where to settle down . . .
It is good to get the feel of several congregations in a different area, and incidentally to appreciate better the feel of the pew - its hardness or comfort is one factor, but not the chief!
Nice to see you
Everyone is different, and we should never make our God-given variety into a problem. Some like to be welcomed from the moment they are spotted coming down the street towards the gothic doorway, Bible in hand; others like to creep in and out for the first six months without being noticed - which is a bit harder in a congregation of eight! But how does the host church know what is visitors want or need? They shouldn't worry; you can usually tell from the notice-board what to expect. You can even guess which Bible version they use by an in-depth study of the style and phrasing of the sign outside - even without a text to guide you!
