Rector's Note: Make New Friends and Keep the Old-5.15.25

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it,” the author of the letter to the Hebrews advises us. The New Testament writer was probably looking back to famous welcomers like Abraham and Sarah, who made sure that their guests got a good meal and plenty to drink when visiting their tents. Turns out those visitors were indeed angels in their midst.

Fast forward and that Word of welcome has rooted itself here at St. Peter’s as well, and has been one of the parish’s most powerful charisms, or gifts. It showed up prominently when we surfaced the parish’s spiritual gifts a few years ago. At the time parishioners said that welcome at St Peter’s was “marked by togetherness, inclusion, accessibility, warmth, kindness, diversity, friendliness, affirmation, enthusiasm, invitation, generous hearts, fellowship, hospitality, community, respect, authenticity, and vulnerability, experiences that are family-friendly and non-judgmental.”

That’s a big list to live up to. Still, warmth and welcome are among the first things that newcomers point out when they talk about why they want to join the parish. So many long-time parishioners can name the people who greeted them and befriended them when they first arrived at the parish. The parish has been working on this a long time.

What is the secret of successful welcome? I believe it’s a commitment to walking with someone from the first hello to the point where they feel comfortable welcoming others. Welcome is a process and ultimately an ongoing relationship.

The Welcome Team, restarted two years ago under the direction of Audrey Kipphut has been formally helping our parish live into its shared gift of welcome. This Sunday after the worship service, it will offer its second annual Silver and Gold luncheon, where long-time parishioners can sit with those newly arrived in the past year and get to know them better. The name comes from that old Girl Scout song, “Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.”

In addition, Welcome Team members have stood with me at the end of each worship service, making sure that visitors had information about the parish, knew how to sign up for the newsletter, and could find the coffee hour that followed.  The group has also assigned its members to our new attendees to check in on how they are doing over time, answer questions, and be a friendly face to recognize at church on Sunday. They assemble the welcome bags that we give to those we welcome on Come 4th Sunday, and ensure that the photo board is updated with new photos. The Welcome Team also makes sure that everyone has a nametag, so we can learn and remember one another’s names.

All of these touches, both little and big, have flowed from Audrey’s deep commitment to that powerful gift of hospitality, shared by her team members.

Outside of the welcome team, so many of our parishioners have developed their own deep practice of welcome over the years. Some make sure to sit with new people at worship or parish events. Others ensure that visitors have prayer pals and an invitation to return on Sunday. Others seek out new faces at the sign of peace, and make sure to speak with them at coffee hour. Ensuring that fellowship hour features home-made goodies and is laid out beautifully is another sign of hospitality and care that Suzanne Teleha invites us to share in.

Hospitality is a form of deep stewardship. As we consider the call to year-round stewardship, the practice of stewarding new members, building friendships and fostering care is a deep application of the value.

I am deeply grateful to our Welcome Team for giving us so many opportunities to practice this important spiritual gift, from wearing a name tag to calling one another by name. I look forward to seeing the process unfold again at the Welcome Team luncheon this Sunday. Thanks to all who are working so hard to entertain the angels in our midst.