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Look Around - Extend Hospitality to Strangers
When a person or family visits your congregation for the first time, there is often something life-changing happening in their lives. People want and need to be in the presence of God when good things, or bad things, or big things are happening. They come to a church – even if they have been away from church for years – because they know they can find the presence of God there. They can find community there. They come hoping they can find graceful support, kindness and prayers there. They come because the Holy Spirit is nudging them to come.
Every person who visits one of our congregations has a story. Maybe they just moved to start a new job, and they don’t know anyone else in town yet. Maybe they just got engaged to be married or just found out they are expecting their first child. Maybe they just received a call from their doctor to tell them they have a challenging medical diagnosis. Maybe they are just starting college at a local school and are truly away from home for the first time. Maybe they are navigating a new season after a recent divorce. Maybe they were recently widowed.
When people screw up their courage to visit one of our churches, they come with a story. Some may want to share their story, while others may just want to sit quietly and say their prayers. Still others may want to sit near the back and see what this particular church is like and if there is anyone else there like them.
This year we are focused on our diocesan theme, “Let love be genuine.” St. Paul includes “extending hospitality to strangers” as one of the practices in which we let our love be genuine. (Romans 12:9-13) Whatever their story, whatever their background, we are called to graciously welcome those who visit our congregations. The word “graciously” is very important here. Grace comes somewhere between assuming someone else reached out to the newcomer across the aisle and latching onto the newcomer so they don’t get away.
We extend genuine love to visitors when we authentically welcome them with a smile and handshake and introduce them to others. And, when appropriate, when we give them a chance to tell their story. It takes intentionality and some sensitivity. Almost everyone is grateful when their presence is acknowledged and someone says, “Good morning, have we met?” It may take a few visits before someone is ready to tell their story, and we need to honor that. There are a lot of ways to do it, but what’s truly important is that we actually do welcome people.
This is the time of year when many people visit a church. Look around on Sunday morning. Be courageous. Extend a hand to gracefully welcome the visitor. You may be entertaining angels unawares.
