Hospitality

My dear friends in Christ,

Today’s readings focus on prayer and hospitality. All who knock on the door of the Church are to be invited and welcomed with holy hospitality and led through full conscious and active participation to live out one’s Baptism. We as the faithful of God have a special role in offering hospitality by inviting all within the community to share their gifts and talents. We have a duty from the “streets to the seats” to provide hospitality to all who enter Corpus Christi Church. We must create a culture that makes people feel welcomed when they enter our Church. Believe it or not, our Church’s hospitality ministry begins before our guests get to the doors of the Church. It happens when we are shopping, when we are out to eat, when we are involved in other township activities. We meet so many people in our daily lives and we are the first impression that someone looking “to be churched” would encounter. There is also the call to service which is critical in making newcomers welcome and those who volunteer to be valued in serving. If we all do our part with inviting and welcoming, people will come back to Church and may actually get excited about what God is doing in their hearts and our Church. We will be making a big push for welcoming ministers and ministers of hospitality during our upcoming Ministry Fair.

I hope you all weathered the storm last week that left us without power for about 18 hours. I prayed for all affected by this sudden wind storm that took down trees, caused flooding, and did damage to some of our neighboring homes and businesses.

May God bless you all!

Father John