“God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!” – Luke 4:18-19 MSG
God loves everybody, and that is God’s grace. We don’t have to earn God’s love, although we respond to God’s grace by being loving in the world. Extending grace is a practice bathed in the invitation to wholeness – to God’s shalom. I celebrate those who practice graceful hospitality every day by offering holistic healing and compassionate health care through Alliance Medical Ministry in Raleigh.
The idea for Alliance was sparked when Dr. Charles Mann and three other physicians from Cary First United Methodist Church were inspired by their commitment to health care, healing, and faith in God to begin a church-based clinic. Alliance Medical Ministry’s mission is to provide access to compassionate, whole-person primary care and other health services for working, uninsured and underinsured adults to reduce health disparities in Wake County. The staff and volunteers who provide services live into their calling of hospitable relational evangelism by engaging mind, body, and spirit. In addition to medical services, diabetes and health education programs, Zumba, yoga, specialized medical and dental care, and bilingual mental health services feed the spirit toward wholeness by offering pastoral care and counseling.
The innovative imagination of those who engage in the ministry of Alliance is rooted in the belief that everyone should partake in the goodness of God, and the ability to access good health care should not be inaccessible because of false scarcity but offered out of God’s abundance. When we live on purpose and in God-given purpose, we do acts of mercy that proclaim through hands of grace, “this is God’s year to act!” Where are you acting with heart and hands to announce the good news?
Lord, as I draw near to you, re-mind me not so much of what I have given but what I have received and have yet to share. Grant me courage to go forth in joy to live out in the world what I pray and profess in ways that make justice real, bring peace to those in pain, and grow in love so I can extend your grace and healing presence, so we all experience your hope. Amen.
Rev. Chris Brady serves as the Capital District Superintendent.
Our theme for this year’s Lenten reflections is Graceful Hospitality. 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Ten Dollar Club, now known as the New Room Society. We give thanks for our Conference’s ongoing commitment to co-creating new places for new people to gather in communion with Jesus Christ and extending graceful hospitality to all of God’s children.