One of the most memorable parts of my experience living in India after seminary was all of the people who warmly welcomed me into their spaces. I didn’t go many weeks without being invited to someone’s house for a meal or conversation and chai. Each time I was struck by the way in which each person would excitedly usher me into their home and offer me the best of what they had, knowing that serving me biryani that took hours to prepare and Thums Up (my favorite Indian soda) often meant my host family had to forgo. The importance of hospitality, of welcoming the stranger or guest into their space, far outweighed whatever sacrifice my hosts made to make me feel welcomed.
My hope as we build our community engagement ministry is that we offer the same type of generous hospitality. We have such a gift in our space, even more so when our upcoming building projects are completed, and I am excited to explore the ways we can open our space to our community. I know we are not new to opening our space – hosting several Bookmarks events over the years with a few on the calendar this year, welcoming the community into our back lot for fall festivals and blessing of animals, and opening our sanctuary for many wonderful concerts like the Winston Salem Choral Artists that we’ll welcome next week – but I was recently reminded of the difference our hospitality can make.
Last fall we hosted the opening keynote speaker for the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors, author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door and many more, TJ Klune. Our sanctuary was filled with many people who probably hadn’t been inside of a church in years. I felt a great sense of cautious optimism from many who entered. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I’m running into a local bakery to grab a treat wearing my First on Fifth nametag. The young woman ringing up my order notices the tag and says something to the effect of, “I was at your church for TJ Klune. I couldn’t believe a church was hosting him. That helped me rethink my feelings about church and people who go to church.”
Every time we open our doors, whether it be on Sunday mornings for study and worship or a Thursday night concert or keynote address, we are creating an opportunity for someone to rediscover, or perhaps discover for the first time, the loving and welcoming community a church can be. As we continue to open our doors and welcome in our community, my prayer is that we do so with enthusiastic generosity and love never quite knowing how, but trusting, that God will move in the lives of those who spend time in our space. What a gift we have to share!
– Mary Kaylor