Dear friends,
While not a regular consumer of fast food, like most, I do find it handy on occasion.
Recently, Karen and I took some of our grandchildren to McDonald’s. Happy Meals and the toys inside them were the irresistible attraction (for the grandchildren J).
I have observed some changes in McDonald’s recently, changes that, in my mind, reflect the core values of the corporation. As a patron now enters through the door of the restaurant, one is “greeted” by the self-serve kiosks. These present a menu screen, and are intended to enable a customer to order one’s food and pay via debit without human interaction. The kiosk then expels a receipt, on which there is a number printed. (I, like most customers present, chose to bypass this contraption in favour of human interaction by waiting in the lineup at the lone cashier). After ordering, I then proceeded to join the line of nameless patrons, all silently scanning the overhead video screen for our order number, and the indication that one’s order is ready to be handed over. At the appearance of the number “Now serving 120,” I stepped forward, was handed the trays of food and took them to our table.
To those who chose the kiosk option, the whole McCafe restaurant experience had all the warmth and personality of a vending machine. As I chose to line up for the cashier, my experience was marginally better, but as there was only one cashier on duty and a long line-up, I felt that I was more of an inconvenience than a valued customer.
At least with the drive- through option, there is the necessity of verbal interaction, albeit via a garbled speaker-phone.
In contrast, Karen and I recently visited and A&W. It was a rainy day, and we were met at the door by a greeter. She opened the door for us, holding an umbrella. Surprised, I thought that she might have regarded me as a senior or something, but she did this for all patrons who entered.
After perusing the overhead menu, I ordered, and the cashier asked my name. She gave us our coffees in china cups and said that she would bring the rest of our order out to us. We sat down, coffee in hand, and the meal was delivered to our table. As we ate, a server came to check how everything was, offered a free refill of coffee and even a root beer sucker. This same service was provided to all. We were impressed.
Just to check A&W out to see if this was an anomaly, we stopped in at another A&W on our trip to Alberta. Though our meal was not served to our table, the cashier asked my name, remembered my name and called my name when the order was ready. Again, I was impressed.
Perhaps the application to church is obvious. Would a visitor to your church find a McDonald’s self-serve experience, or an A&W, full service experience? While people may choose one or the other, I will choose to attend where people matter. I often can gain a good reading of the health of a church by how they greet people and the interaction in the foyer. Both restaurant experiences – and church experiences are much more than a reflection of the servers. (I have friends who work at McDonalds J) – they reflect the core values of the organizations and leadership – they reflect what matters to the leaders.
Five Minutes on Friday, April 21, 2017, with a story that is even much better than A&W, from The Rock Christian Fellowship in Ladysmith – the story of Sally! (Matt 25:40, “…Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Here’s the Link…
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LPD Women in Ministry Facebook Page. On Saturday of conference, LPD women in in ministry (women church ministry staff and pastor’s wives) met for lunch and a number of them expressed interest in being connected. Karen has set up a Facebook Page, and invites all women church ministry staff and pastor’s wives to join. The purpose is communication, encouragement and prayer for one another.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24,35).
To join the Facebook Page – please search “LPD Women in Ministry” and click ‘Join”
Pastors – please inform your spouse of this opportunity.
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May God bless and keep you as you look to the Lord, and trust him for his good work in the week ahead.
In Jesus,
Rob
