This time of transition presents an opportunity for conversations about cultivating fruitfulness in the life the parish. We’ll be referring to Robert Schnase’s book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. I hope you’ll follow along and, if you would like to read the book, it is available at Cokesbury and Amazon.com. You may also wish to explore the website. All of this is to help us to examine together how these five practices might apply to St. John’s as you look to the future with a new rector.
- Radical hospitality
- Passionate worship
- Intentional faith development
- Risk-taking mission and service
- Extravagant generosity
Most churches would describe themselves as places where hospitality, worship, formation, service, and generosity may be found. These are certainly characteristics of St. John’s. What differentiates fruitful congregations is when these characteristics become intentional practices that are so obvious that one must find adjectives that are powerful enough to describe what is going on.
This week, we are exploring the practice of Radical Hospitality. Don't let the word 'radical' scare you. The Latin source of the word “radical” means “up from the root.” To use it in this context is to suggest something that is deeply rooted in our lives. Radical hospitality is actually an idea conceptualized by the Benedictine monks in the 5th century and is one of the central tenants of the Rule of St. Benedict. Radical hospitality is rooted in faith and deep personal convictions.
How “radical” is the hospitality at St. John’s? If someone who visits us on a Sunday tries to describe their experience of our hospitality to someone on the following morning, might they describe it as “radical?” Robert Schnase describes radical hospitality this way:
"The words radical and hospitality are not usually together in one phrase. To advance the church, perhaps they should be. Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ. It describes a genuine love for others who are not yet a part of the faith community, an outward focus, a reaching out to those not yet known, a love that motivates church members to openness and adaptability, a willingness to change behaviors in order to accommodate the needs and receive the talents of newcomers" (Five Practices, pp.11-12).
Here are some questions a congregation might ask about its practice of hospitality:
- Are newcomers invited to coffee hour or a meal following worship?
- Do members speak to newcomers during coffee hour, or huddle with people they know?
- Do newcomers receive notes and phone calls after a visit?
- Do members seek out people whom they do not know during The Peace, coffee hour, events?
- Are those who are new to the parish invited to serve in ministry groups, guilds, committees?
- Do committees practice regular rotation of leaders and members?
- What kind of welcome is communicated by inside and outside signage and media?
I hope you will read the book, foster conversations with fellow parishioners, and be open to the possibilities we will be exploring in the coming weeks. And ask Christ to reveal to us some new, possibly terrifying, discoveries that will lead to a renewal of mission.
I'll see you in Church!