Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7
There is a natural rhythm in the life of faith: call and response. God calls in love, and we respond (hopefully) to the invitation. The beckoning and welcoming grace of God elicits in us a response that enables us to live into Christ’s love for us and live out of the gifts which the Spirit has implanted within us.
If this is the welcome we receive from Christ, then it is the model which guides us, the Body of Christ. Let’s be clear, welcoming is different than being friendly. Saying, “Hi,” is being friendly. Engaging in a conversation is being welcoming. Noticing a visitor and being nice is being friendly. Embracing them as a child of God is being welcoming. Respecting different perspectives is being friendly. Embracing that difference and learning from that difference is being welcoming. What might that look like?
I saw such welcome when I attended The CityWell UMC in Durham. This is a new faith community that was started in 2021. Upon arrival, there was great energy as the community came together. Loud hellos, generous hugs, great laughter, and conversation filled the room. Looking around, I witnessed a congregation filled with different hues representing God’s rainbow of humanity, a variety of generations, a range of styles of dress, and a diversity of abilities. The embodiment of individuals was respected, and the deeper connection of the Holy Spirit was affirmed.
Once the service started, there was participation from many members of the congregation. Worship was a community affair and not simply the domain of the clergy. When the singing began, I noticed the children of the church scurry forward and look in a large box. They came away with cloth streamers and proceeded to dance in joy as the adults sang the hymn. Some raised hands, others swayed to the beat. All joined in the praise of God. The service continued with more participation from the congregation. Those that were leaders in the service were as diverse as the gathered community. There was an air of invitation for everyone to share the gifts that God had given them.
In the diversity of the leadership, the affirmation of each person living into their response to God, and the common quest to love deeply, this church embodied a welcome like the welcome of Jesus. They offered gracious hospitality. Those in attendance were embraced for who they were, and their gifts were readily received by others. In the process, not only was I blessed, but I also was challenged to become a similar welcoming presence to others. For welcomes offered and welcomes received, thanks be to God!
Lord Jesus, I thank you for your welcoming love that affirmed me and continues to lead me to live into the fullness of who I was created to be. Grant that I might share a similar welcome, so that others may know their place in your love and live in the potential with which you created them. Amen.
Rev. Mike Frese serves as the Corridor 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.