Radical Hospitality

Welcome!

            I've just passed the 6-month mark in my new home. I've been reflecting on the radical hospitality that was extended during my welcome... especially as this has not ended. I arrived to people making an effort to make sure I felt comfortable and that I belonged here.  The intentionality of welcome has been delightfully overwhelming!

            We're now in the height of the summer season - and for this tourist community, that means welcoming a plethora of newcomers. Some are in town for a day, others for a month; some come to the church for worship throughout their duration, others just to catch a  glimpse of an admirable edifice.

            One of the things we in the church are intentional about is extending a radical hospitality, regardless of how long someone will be with us. It's not just a gift for a new cleric; we want everyone to feel special when they join us. Our church has pamphlets and tour guides, children's activity sheets and an abundance of smiles.

            In order to be as welcoming as we can, we tried to see the building and the service with first-time eyes: it's amazing how much we can take for granted, and how much we are trying to improve. It doesn't take much: announcing that the hymns are in the blue book, or putting a discreet sign on the washroom door (it otherwise looks like a classic confessional); providing basic information about our windows for younger explorers to understand the stained glass, or having fellowship outside the church rather than away in the hall. We keep our doors open, and tourists entering mid-worship are invited to join us (wherever we are in the service).

            What makes the difference is not the concrete things that have been done, but the willingness to do them. Choosing to be open to new ideas can be challenging (we know how Anglicans love change...), but such willingness is making sure that we are letting everyone who comes to us know that they are welcome, that they belong.

            The radical hospitality that we are trying to extend to our visitors and guests is also allowing us to consider how we interact with one another - and to seek out ways to improve our parish family relations in the process. 

            The gospel invites us to extend radical hospitality. It's a never-ending invitation; and the reality is that we won't always get it right. But with an open mind and a willing heart, we can be the church that Jesus has called us to be.