It’s Easter: Practice radical hospitality
“Our church is so friendly!”
You’ve heard it. The person sincerely means it.
Maybe they are friendly. Here’s hoping their self-reporting is accurate.
Here’s another view:
I’m one of those odd types who randomly likes to watch worship services on YouTube. A while back, I was watching a Christmas Eve service and for some reason I was watching it ‘til the bitter end. I was listening to the post-worship music while people got up to leave and greet each other.
And there it was – right there on camera. A couple (who I assume had been invited by someone) was standing up, looking around uncomfortably while everyone else was happily chatting with each other. The duo looked lost as they glanced about not sure what to do or where they should go. This went on for what seem like forever.
It took every ounce of me not to scream at the screen:
“Will someone please talk to these poor people?!”
News flash: Easter may be your biggest attendance all year and it’s right around the corner.
This is your friendly reminder to prime the pump and prompt people to practice "radical hospitality." That’s what Bishop Robert Schnase called it in his classic book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.
Here’s Schnase’s definition of “Radical Hospitality”:
Congregations that practice Radical Hospitality demonstrate an 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. Radical describes that which is drastically different from ordinary practices, outside the normal, that which exceeds expectations and goes the second mile.
Of course, you should be practicing radical hospitality all year – that’s a given. But it’s the big days when there are lots of guests where your congregation needs to step it up and shine.
The Barna Group came out with an article this morning that said that “spiritual openness and curiosity are on the rise in the U.S. across all age groups.”
“Nearly half of U.S. adults (44%) even say they are more open to God today than they were before the pandemic.”
Visitors on Easter Sunday may well represent people who are longing to find a place to experience the Sacred. To ask the hard questions of faith. To find holy community.
Acknowledging and offering a warm welcome will let them know that yours is the kind of congregation that may be the place they are looking for.
Take a moment to remind your congregation that there likely will be visitors on Easter morning and that they should be prepared to welcome them with open arms (and a "hello"). Ask ten of your friendliest people to reach out to people who may be new that day.
Inspiring generosity is a holistic adventure. It is not solely about money. It is about developing a culture of gratitude and gratefulness for what God has done in your life. That’s means welcoming those who walk through your doors, thankful that they have chosen to spend an hour with you to explore their faith.
It’s a privilege to be a part of your guests’ journey. Let’s be sure you make that phrase “Our church is so friendly” is a wonderful reality this Easter.
Related post: Book review of Unreasonable Hospitality.
Photo credit: RNDE stock Project @pexels.com
Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. Easter is a great time to invite new people. She wants you to see how it can be done in this very funny video.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
Schedule a meeting now.
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