Dear First Pres,
On Saturday I had the privilege of officiating Taylor and Phoebe’s wedding. At the reception there was a young woman who looked very familiar to me, but I couldn’t remember why. Finally, she sat across from us at dinner where her place card said “Katie.”
“Hi Katie, I’m Jeremy, and this is my wife, Diane. I’m confident we’ve met before, but I can’t remember where.”
“I met you at church,” she said.
Now I was feeling really dumb, but I instantly remembered meeting her on Palm Sunday while she was coming into worship. It was her first time, and she seemed excited to be joining us in person after watching the services online for a few weeks.
“Of course. I’m so sorry I forgot,” I responded. “Well, how do you know Taylor and Phoebe?”
Her answer was beautiful to me. That day, when Katie came to worship for the first time, she sat behind Taylor and Phoebe. She had never met them before, but they introduced themselves to each other that morning. When Phoebe (who is relatively new to the church herself) discovered that Katie was brand new to FPC, she instantly invited Katie to come to her bridal shower and wedding!
Don’t you love that? That is supreme hospitality. It moves beyond the incredibly important warm greeting and inquisitive question. It moves beyond the next step of a lingering conversation in the courtyard. She invited Katie into her life. And Katie said “yes” – which was also wonderfully courageous on her part.
At our Session meeting this week we spent time thanking God for the First Pres strengths that seem to be shining in this season. One of the strengths mentioned was “welcoming newcomers.” I am so grateful for the way FPC Fresno welcomes newcomers. I hear it from people again and again that they have felt seen and welcomed when they come into the Sanctuary for worship. We’re not perfect at it, but I do feel it is one of our great strengths. But I hope we’re also inspired by Phoebe’s next-level hospitality.
When Jesus approached Matthew in his tax collector’s booth (Matthew 9:9), He invited Matthew into His life. “Follow me,” Jesus said. As you know, it was much more than a warm and welcoming encounter. Perhaps that had already occurred between Jesus and Matthew. But “follow me” was a life changing invitation into Jesus’ life.
“Follow me,” may not be your best move for a first invitation. :) I pray that more and more of us will be as hospitable as Taylor and Phoebe were to Katie. I pray more and more of us will say, “We’re about to go out to lunch. Would you like to come?” Or, “I’m headed to our wonderful Sunday School class. Would you like to join me?” Or, “Hey, we have a group that meets at our house this week called a Growth Group. We’d love for you to come check it out. Are you available?”
Healthy churches have supreme hospitality. It’s a reflection of the divine hospitality of our God who left heaven for earth to invite us into a living relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May it be more and more true of us, FPC Fresno.
Blessings,
Jeremy
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