RADICAL HOSPITALITY PRACTICAL STEPS

As you all consider your discomfort about inviting a friend or colleague to Trinity, let me encourage you to practice your radical hospitality on those visitors who’ve already found us.  With intentional practice, you can reach a level of comfort to take to those outside our doors.  Use a style that feels natural to you, remembering that you plant the seeds, counting on God to water the soil you’ve prepared.

We Presbyterians approach radical hospitality through our relationships, so set your sights on cultivating a relationship with visitors.  Discover who the person is with genuine interest and curiosity.  Ask questions and draw the visitor out.  LISTEN carefully for a shared interest or a shared problem.  LISTEN for ways God has made the two of you alike.  LISTEN for nuances without prying.  Ask such questions as:

“Do you live in the neighborhood?”  “Are you new to Topeka?”

Tell me about your family/work/school.  What do you enjoy about your job?

When someone answers your “How are you?” with “After last week things could only go up,” you can stay silent for a few seconds to create space to hear more, giving them a chance to talk IF THEY CHOOSE TO, or you could gently ask, “Would you like to tell me about your
week?"

How do you respond when someone answers your invitation to Fellowship Friday with:  “Thanks for the invitation but I can’t.  I went to a funeral last week and now I’m really behind at work”?  Would you be comfortable expressing your care by asking about the funeral?  The more effective way to begin establishing a relationship is to listen and respond to feelings.  Second best is asking for more information.  If you’re tongue-tied and walk away, but feel as if you blew the chance to respond to a need, consider returning to the person with “Listen, I’m so sorry about your grandmother’s death.  I just couldn’t think of what to say to you the other day.  But I care.”  Again, silence creates time and space for the person to provide more feelings or information if desired.

There are persons all around us whom God longs to touch through us.  We each have our own personality and style of relating to others.  Be aware of those opportunities to share stories of what the church has meant to you or how you find Jesus Christ among your family of faith.

Grace and Peace,

Shelley