http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com site Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:12:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.png http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/hospitality/ http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/hospitality/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:12:15 +0000 pastoramywalters http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com/?p=3 Continue reading →]]> I’ve been thinking quite a bit about hospitality. Often times in the context of church we understand hospitality as the act of welcoming a stranger. This translates into slapping a name tag on them as they enter to worship, saying hi and telling them about coffee hour following worship, or shaking their hand during passing of the peace. All of which can be acts of welcoming. But is it enough? Are we really taking the time to get to know each other? I’m wondering if we don’t need to examine our motivations. If our motivation is simply to get a person to return so that we may increase our numbers then I’m not sure it counts as hospitality.
When did Jesus ever teach that we should be gathering up people and convincing them to join a congregation. Perhaps the greatest act of hospitality is to go out into the world and live our lives in the manor Jesus taught. Making friends with everyone we meet regardless of social status, or political views, or sexual orientation. Loving our neighbors and taking care of each other so that the world is transformed into a just and hope filled place. This is the greatest act of hospitality I can imagine. It focuses our attention on God’s vision for the world rather than our own desire to count numbers on Sunday morning.
Don’t get me wrong….I love to have visitors on Sundays. I love a good presence in worship. Because it feels good to be in community with those who are faithfully seeking to understand God’s call as we experience through Jesus. But when we focus on numbers alone we miss the point. We cannot truly be open to listening to God. So…..I whole heartedly welcome anyone and everyone to come experience God’s presence through worshiping together, but I also invite you to then return to the world and truly live out God’s desire for hospitality. Loving your neighbors where ever you find them.

]]> http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/hospitality/feed/ 0 pastoramywalters http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com/2011/03/25/hello-world/ http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com/2011/03/25/hello-world/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:18:41 +0000 pastoramywalters http://pastoramywalters.wordpress.com/?p=1 Continue reading →]]> It is my great pleasure to welcome you to my blog and First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Olympia website, www.firstchristianolympia.org. I’ve given a great deal of thought as to what I might say as a way of introduction to this incredible faith community, and I keep coming back to the phrase we use on our outdoor sign: Open Minds, Compassionate Hearts, Welcoming ALL people.

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