Showing Hospitality
I have a wonderful friend who opens her house up to our small group almost every Thursday. We knock, letting ourselves in, making her dog bark, and piling our shoes in the entry way. On really, really cold nights, like last winter, she has her husband start a fire for us, so we would have a toasty warm room to have our Bible study in. My friend has the gift of hospitality and it shows every time we meet at her house. Another friend also has the gift of hospitality in church. While she ushers, she greets everyone and talks to as many people as she can. Most of the time she isn’t standing by her door giving out announcement pages, but standing out in the narthex, making sure everyone is greeted and welcomed to church. She can talk to complete strangers as though they are like family or long lost friends. What a wonderful gift of hospitality my friends have.
These are just two examples of hospitality that show how we as Christians should act toward others. Each one of us has the gift of hospitality, only some more than others. Everyone can welcome someone they don’t know during giving of the peace, or just saying “I’m glad your worshiping with us today.” One area our church needs to work on is hospitality and it is up to everyone to do it, not just a few out in the narthex or by a door....
Photo credit: octaviolopez on morguefile
Young Youth Update for October
Our first big event will be the Rake N Run, taking place on Oct. 22nd from 4:30-7pm. We have done this service project in the past and it’s always a success and very rewarding. We go around to the neighboring houses around First Lutheran and rake their yards for them. Then we come back to the church to eat, do a devotional, and some kind of project with pumpkins. It’s such a remarkable night for all involved!
OWLs Post for October
September started the program year with a bang for the OWL’s. Several of us made the trip to Madison to visit the capital and Olbrich Gardens. It was little rainy but we had a great time viewing our wonderful Capital building and lunch at an authentic Irish Pub across the street of the capital. Photos are attached. Our potluck was well attended with great food and a fun team competition to answer bible and 50’s -60’s music /TV questions. Fun was had by all.
We will kick off October with a beautiful drive down the river to “Yesterday’s Youth” at Sugar Creek Bible Camp on Monday, October 6th....
Sunday School Update for October
October Sunday School Calendar:
- Sunday September 28th: 3rd grade Stepping Stones
- Sunday October 5th: 3rd grade Stepping Stones
- Sunday October 12th: 3rd grade Stepping Stones in worship
- Sunday October 19th: K, 1, and 2 sing at 10:30 worship
Other “good to know” dates for the fall Sunday school semester....
Message from Pastor Karyn for August
“A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” – Thomas Jefferson
When I saw this quote, I laughed. It was so perfect. It fit with everything we had learned while being in Philadelphia. If I was a t-shirt wearing person I would have purchased the t-shirt. The funny thing was when our group met for lunch that afternoon, several others mentioned seeing it and thinking the same thing!...
Message from Pastor Stanton
Ten teams of three to five people each have been busy putting meat on the bones of our plans. These teams are coming up with specific ideas for how to address how First serves the community, hospitality, evangelism, learning ministries, property concerns, worship, stewardship and more. Ideas have been flying around all summer without much concern for exactly how they will all get done. Now that we are naming the places we want to go, the next step is for our staff, leaders and all our members to figure out how to get there....