Hospitality is a clear and tangible expression of God’s grace! So, each month I’m going to try and share a couple hospitality tips to help us do our best at welcoming the visitors and guests God sends to us at Trinity. Remember, the Bible tells us that, when we welcome a stranger, we may actually be welcoming an angel – a messenger from God.
Tip #1 – Give our best attentiveness to our guests. We all love to see our friends when we come to church, right? But we need to remember how nerve-wracking, anxiety-producing, and awkward it can feel to visit a church for the first time… especially if we don’t know anyone.
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On Saturday, January 18, a group of Trinity staff, board members, and other lay leaders met for a day to
review Trinity’s ministries and progress with regards to our mission and vision. Those attending the retreat included: Pastor Tracey, Pastor Amber, Melissa Kramer, Savannah Jewell, Ryan Wynkoop, Norma Singley, Gloria Thompson, and Steven Flowers. The theme of the retreat was Seasons. We inventoried all of Trinity’s ministries and programs and evaluated their season of life. Here are some of the more significant discussions and decisions:
Did you know that hospitality is considered a spiritual practice? Spiritual practices are those things we do to open ourselves to God’s grace and the transforming work of God’s Holy Spirit. So what makes hospitality an experience of God’s grace? In Genesis, chapter 18, the patriarch Abraham entertains three travelers. He invites them to stop and rest under a tree in a cool and safe location. He brings them water to wash. And he and Sarah, his wife, prepare a meal for the travelers. But, these are no ordinary travelers. They are referred to as men, but also as Lord. So the story teaches us, as Hebrews 13:2 clearly states, that we encounter the divine through strangers and guests. The word “hospitality” means “the love of strangers.” Each time I am on retreat at Benedict Inn, I am amazed at the extravagant generosity and graciousness shown by the nuns. As members of the Order of Saint Benedict, they follow his teaching that guests are to be received like Christ and, in fact, we welcome the presence of God in each person and circumstance.
One of the most important expressions of hospitality at Trinity is through the ministry of our Sunday morning greeters. Many of us have had the experience of visiting a church where we are either ignored or embarrassed. Neither feels good. True hospitality welcomes people while also providing them with space. True hospitality creates a safe, open and generous space that communicates welcome and respect. It means being fully present and attentive to another person. That is a rare gift and blessing in today’s fast-paced electronic culture. Right now at Trinity, we are in great need of greeters. Please pray about this. Research shows that most people decide within the first several minutes of entering a church whether or not they will come back. So greeting is a very important ministry. If you would consider being a Greeter, please let Pastor Tracey know. When we welcome others, we serve as ambassadors for Jesus. And when we are attentive to our guests, we often experience God’s blessing through them. I hope you will consider this ministry need and opportunity. When it comes to knowing your Bible, when’s the last time you read a passage out of Obadiah? Or heard a message from Habakkuk? Let’s face it, if you start a daily Bible Reading program on January 1 as a New Year’s Resolution, chances are pretty good you’ve gotten off track long before you made it to those obscure last 12 books of the Old Testament—known as the Minor Prophets.
Many of us, if not most, have never truly studied the Minor Prophets, which is a shame because they tell us a lot about social injustice and what God thinks about the rich and powerful taking advantage of the poor and weak—a topic certainly relevant to our times! Plus, they give us insights into what everyday life was like during Old Testament times and show us how God deals with evil—then, now, and still to come. Starting on October 6, Jeremy Grossman will be leading a new discussion series on the Minor Prophets, “Prophets by the Dozen,” with the Earth and Stars discussion group. This new study will focus on three objectives:
This discussion series will take place in two parts, with Part I starting October 6 and running through November 17:
Part II of the discussion will begin after the New Year. The group meets Sunday mornings at 9:15 in the Great Room Conference Room. Adults of all ages are welcome. Refreshments are provided and childcare/youth classes are always available. |
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