Check the flower chart

A visitor might be standing there

`Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers' (Hebrews 13:2). Recently I rode to a major worship event with the preacher for the day and his wife. When we arrived, the preacher and I were greeted warmly. "Come this way," we were told, "the participants are gathering in the sacristy, and we have a light lunch ready."

I turned to the preacher's wife and asked, "Are you coming along?"

"I guess not," she said. "I've brought along something to read until it's time for worship."

What's wrong with this scene? It's not unusual. I was sensitive to it because it happens frequently to me and my wife. Jutta often does the major part of the driving on trips to my preaching appointments. When we arrive, I'm spirited away and she is left to fend for herself. One bishop's wife said she had three options upon arrival at a church where her husband was preaching:

- Study the altar flower calendar in the narthex.

* Find a place to sit in the church and pray that it isn't "the seat" of a longtime member.

* Introduce herself to anyone she can find who usually has another job to do.

Spouses who accompany interim pastors to their Sunday assignments tell the same story. Admittedly these are special cases, but they are typical of a larger pattern.

At one of our Global Mission Events last summer an older couple asked me what our church was doing to reach out to strangers. I told about our "Identity Project," with its TV spots and newspaper ads, and our efforts to provide user-friendly bulletins. "That's all well and good," they said, "but when we visited our children in three different cities, we went to Lutheran churches and were never spoken to by anyone in the congregations."

Small or large church, the impediments to hospitality seem to be the same. Many are just plain shy about walking up to strangers and starting a conversation. Others are too busy talking with friends to notice newcomers. Still others are afraid they will be welcoming people who have been members for years.

Why not make a New Year's resolution to look for strangers at church and welcome them? Especially if they are reading the altar flower calendar. El

Call the Presiding Bishop's Hotline: (773) 380-2930. Messages change every two weeks.

By: H. George Anderson

A monthly message from the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

His e-mail address: [email protected]

Copyright Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Jan 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved