Nurturing radical hospitality at church

A message from Rev. Laura and Ginny Belden-Charles:

We are gearing up for this fall and rejuvenating our usher/greeter teams as well as building in intentional welcome for visitors and newcomers. If you are interested in being part of either effort, send an email to Rev. Laura (laura@firstuniv.org). Let her know what service you attend and if you’d like to greet/usher or if you are interested in intentionally welcoming newcomers. We will get you more information on roles and let you sign up for the one Sunday a month that works best with your schedule. 

Here are some words from Ginny during last Sunday’s service:

We are welcoming many more visitors and newcomers right now. With facism growing in this country, more and more of us are seeking a community that centers values of diversity, justice, care, and our interconnection with all of life.  

Last week Rev. Jen quoted bel hooks, who describes love as a verb—an action. There is another idea related to this: radical hospitality. Radical hospitality is action based in love, justice and disrupting social norms to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for all. It is actively reaching out to build relationships within the community, especially with those who may feel marginalized or overlooked. As a community, having radical hospitality means more than just making information available to newcomers. It is reaching out to get to really know each other. It is extending an invitation to someone to join a group you are part of. It is helping connect newcomers to people and groups. It is extending an invitation to participate, to contribute, to belong. 

A small group of us have been meeting this summer to look at ways we can strengthen our hospitality of newcomers. We know that visitors can sometimes feel a little lost here, from finding where to go in the building, to finding groups and activities to join, to even walking down the steps into a buzzing social hall filled with people already engaged in conversations with their friends. It can be hard to find a way in to our large community. 

We have some things we want to put in place this fall to strengthen our welcoming of newcomers. First, we have set up a table to welcome visitors in the entryway near the RE desk. At the welcome table, visitors can get a nametag, sign up for the Liberal and get information on how to fill in a Visitor Form online to receive more specific information. This fall we are setting up a table in the social hall for Newcomers in which they can meet others and get more information about First U. 

In order to do this, we need your help. It’s a great way to meet people. Many of us making a small commitment will plant the seeds to create a culture of radical hospitality among us.

E-mail Rev. Laura to offer your time and care in welcoming folks at church: laura@firstuniv.org