When Rev. Kevin Armstrong first began talking about the book “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations,” several members of the Stewardship Campaign Steering Committee said they thought North Church could already serve as a model for the kinds of church ‘habits’ that Robert Schnase talks about.
That may sound a little bit smug, but as you walk around this church just about any day – and many nights –you’ll see examples of the first practice Schnase talks about: the notion of ‘radical hospitality.’
We all know in our bones what ‘hospitality’ is.
- It’s making people feel welcome.
- It’s bringing out-siders IN-side.
- Extending ourselves, whether it’s through Eatin’ Meetin’s, or IHN overnight stays…or just wearing our nametags during Sunday worship.
And that’s a good start.
What’s exciting about the practice of RADICAL hospitality is that it challenges us to go beyond what’s easy and comfortable.
I’m sure I’m not the only one in this congregation who was reared to be somewhat suspicious of the term ‘radical.’
It’s even a little scary. And that’s a good thing.
In the next few weeks, leading up to Stewardship Sunday in late October, members of the Steering Committee are going to be talking about what truly “radical hospitality” might look like at North Church.
The goal is to begin searching for how North can adopt some of those “practices”…. and commit to KEEP “practicing” them until we get them right.
- It’ll mean being hospitable in new ways and new places, with people who haven’t been inside this church before.
- More young people. Members of the gay and lesbian communities. People with a range of mental or physical disabilities.
- Radical hospitality involves using new techniques to reach people (although Kevin hopes you won’t start ‘tweeting’ during his sermons).
- It also includes incorporating new ways to share that essence of hospitality – food – with each other with our neighbors around North Church and around the world.
- Plus, it will involve considering how North Church can use its magnificent facility to be hospitable — which means taking care of the legacy that the founders of North Church bequeathed to us.
If you have ideas on how North can expand its hospitality, please write them on a slip of paper and include it in next week’s offering, or add to the blog posts at this site.
This is a time to be brave – and even a little radical!