Extending Hospitality
by Beverly Marshall-Goodell
Romans 12:9-13
April 13, 2014
A couple of weeks ago I attended a program on managing grief called “Journey through Loss,”
sponsored by Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service and Iowa City Hospice,
and held at the Coralville Performing Arts Center.
These two organizations understand how to do hospitality.
When I first walked up to the building, I was greeted by two people
who directed me to the registration table.
At the registration table I was given a nametag, a folder with an outline of the first presentation,
and a printed Certificate of Attendance indicating the details of the event
for those who needed continuing education credit.
From there I was directed to the place where coffee and snacks were being served,
and given directions to the restrooms and to where the program would begin.
In less than five minutes I had been welcomed, identified, rewarded,
and equipped for the training that followed.
No less than six people greeted me during that brief time, and I knew I was ready to get started.
What do you do at home to prepare for the arrival of guests?
Do you clean the house (maybe even the yard), prepare food and beverages,
put clean sheets on the beds and clean towels in the bathroom?
What makes you feel welcome when you arrive in a new place?
What are the little things that make your feel truly welcome?
Today, I want to share with you a little about the importance of extending hospitality
to all who find their way into our building on Sunday morning.
I invite you to hear these words from Romans 12:9-13.
Scripture – Romans 12:9-13
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual
affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the
Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the
saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Prayer
Gracious God, we know that from the very beginning,
you have called your people to show hospitality to strangers.
From the Old Testament stories of Abraham entertaining your angels,
to Jesus’ greatest commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves,
you have challenged us to go out of our way to make others feel welcomed.
We know that the quality of our love for friends and strangers grows
in direct proportion with your love for us.
Help learn to live our lives as loving hosts to all we encounter on our journeys of faith. Amen.
Message
Walt Disney understood that hospitality begins in the parking lot.
If you have ever been to a Disney theme park, you know that the parking lots are huge,
and most guests end up parking a long way from the main entrance,
so they provide open air trams to reduce the time and energy required to get into the park.
They also employ huge signs directing guests to the main entrance, the hotels, the restaurants,
and, of course, the restrooms.
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Extending Hospitality
by Beverly Marshall-Goodell
Romans 12:9-13
April 13, 2014
Have you ever been to an event in a place where you could not figure out how to get inside,
or how to locate the restrooms?
Did it ever make you just want to turn around and go back home?
If you have attended church for many years, you may not realize how difficult it can be
for someone to walk into a church for the first time.
In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Paul tells us that the essence of the life of a Christian disciple
involves putting the needs and concerns of others before our own.
While Disney no doubt emphasized hospitality in the design of theme parks
in order to boost his business financially,
Christians emphasize hospitality because it is God’s will.
God is love, and in his letter to the Romans Paul reminds us
that our love should be genuine, mutual and unrelenting.
We are to love one another, not just within the church, but also outside the church.
We are called to pray for those with whom we disagree, to forgive freely,
and to contribute to the needs of the saints as well as extend hospitality to strangers.
Hospitality has always been an important part of the Judeo-Christian tradition,
yet sometimes churches fail to notice when their facilities begin to lose their luster,
or their signs are confusing to newcomers, because members know where to go.
Adam Hamilton, pastor at the rapidly growing United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
in Leawood, Kansas, recommends that every church regularly pay attention
to how their building and their worship services appear to guests.
For example, when someone arrives, do they know where to park and which entrance to use?
Some churches provide greeters in the parking lot to help people find their way,
and many provide reserved parking for visitors.
Once inside, can people easily locate the sanctuary, nursery, classrooms and restrooms?
Are they welcomed by a person who can answer questions and provide directions?
Is everyone wearing nametags, so they don’t feel like an outsider for wearing one?
Welcoming churches make sure that every opportunity for hospitality is effective.
That means that their facility looks neat and clean both inside and out.
It means that elevators and coat racks are easily accessible, bulletin boards are updated regularly,
and paint is touched up as needed.
It also means that everyone who regularly attends the church makes a special effort
to greet newcomers and let them know they are welcome.
Outwardly-focused churches notice when someone new shows up for worship,
while inwardly-focused churches are too busy connecting with their long-time friends
to even notice that someone new is among them.
Hospitality is the job of the entire congregation, not just one or two people.
Welcoming churches also provide visitor-friendly worship services.
Worship is the place where visitors should most feel like they belong,
but for many who are not familiar with our insider language and practices,
it is where they feel most excluded.
People who are new to Christian worship may not know when to stand, what to read aloud,
and where to find the songs to be sung.
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Extending Hospitality
by Beverly Marshall-Goodell
Romans 12:9-13
April 13, 2014
It doesn’t take much in a printed bulletin or a slide presentation or spoken directions
to make a service of worship easier for guests to follow,
and that little bit of guidance can make a world of difference for a newcomer.
Maybe you believe that everyone should know the Lord’s Prayer from memory,
and should just know to stand when we sing,
but it is not hard to help guide everyone through worship
without singling out any who may be unsure of what to do.
When I was growing up, the pastor used to ask visitors in worship to stand,
to introduce themselves, and to put on a red “Visitor” ribbon.
Church growth experts now indicate that while such practices are helpful for regular attenders,
they can be very intimidating to worship guests.
They suggest instead that newcomers be welcomed collectively,
and invited to share their contact information on an attendance pad or registration card.
Another way that churches can extend hospitality during worship
is by asking everyone to welcome the people around them.
In a church the size of Grace UMC it is easy for regular attenders to spot a visitor,
but those who don’t attend every week may not know if someone has been attending
when they were absent.
Just remember that it always appropriate to introduce yourself and say “good morning.”
Hospitality is part of our mission in the world.
Humans are social beings, and we were created to live and work in community.
Many people today struggle to find a place where they feel loved and accepted for who they are.
If you examine the principal teachings of Christianity it is clear that every Christian church
ought to be a place where everyone feels loved and accepted
just as God loves and accepts us all.
Unfortunately, throughout history the Christian church has demonstrated a bad habit
of failing to live up to our true calling to become “little Christs.”
One way a local church can work to overcome the stereotype of judgmental Christians
is to activate cultivate a culture of hospitality for all.
Today, I invite the entire congregation here at Grace UMC to become more intentional
about how we extend hospitality to others by the condition of our facility,
the design of our worship, and the love and compassion of our members.
Prayer
Dear God, help us practice welcome and hospitality.
Show us the places where we need to change,
and give us the courage and diligence to do what needs to be done.
Give us hearts to welcome every person who walks through our doors.
Guide us to be the church you intend us to be, in the community and in the world. Amen.
Benediction
Love God and serve the people. Serve God and love the people. Amen.
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