Hospitality

In ancient Mediterranean societies, which produced the texts of both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Testament of the Bible, hospitality was considered a primary social obligation and often the pinnacle of religious practice.

Endowing hospitality with that kind of significance—which can seem a bit odd or even quaint in modern Western contexts—can be traced to two broad considerations. First, the geographical and climatic conditions of many of those ancient locations often made travel arduous if not treacherous; hospitality (shelter, food, and water) could easily be a life-saving gesture. And second, the genuine welcome of a stranger into a household or a community modeled what religious traditions wished to declare about God—the One who made us also welcomes us as members of God’s own household.

Hospitality is a core value for All Saints’ Parish and we are constantly seeking to discern how to extend a divine welcome ever more effectively to both newcomer and longtime member and everyone in between. We seek ways to make our sanctuary more welcoming; create friendly spaces for conversations with refreshments; and organize opportunities to meet new people and learn new things about old friends. Above all, we want to make all of interactions with each other signs of God’s own kindness towards us in Christ, whose welcome is one of never-failing love.

Hospitality Contact: Fran Oleson – fjoleson@comcast.net – 810-730-1261 (moblie) – 269-857-5201 (parish office)