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| Sheltering Communication"I was hungry and you gave me food. I was a stranger and you welcomed me." - Matthew 25:35 Dear Friends, This year we have a new volunteer for coordinating our church’s experience as a host of the Interfaith Shelter. The Shelter will open on January 3, and we are responsible for the first two-week “shift.” (For the first two weeks in January, we will be providing meals, overnight shelter, and access to shower and laundry facilities for approximately 12 guests.) To John, our new coordinator, who attended a training meeting in mid November, the prospect sounded exciting, and also overwhelming. John’s concerns made me realize how much can go “unspoken.” He also got me thinking that kindness and hospitality, when repeated often enough, can become ingrained habits. “Don’t worry,” I assured John. “The members of the church will respond with enthusiasm. They always do! We’ll get those meals and overnights all covered.” And I know you WILL respond! John is new enough to the church that he has not yet seen you in action for the Interfaith Shelter. He’ll be impressed when you spring into action. I felt bad that I had allowed John to experience any anxiety at all. Sometimes, we know something is part of a routine, and we’ve been doing it a long time, we assume “everybody knows.” But that’s not always the case. If we don’t take the thought and time to keep newcomers “in the loop,” we might be causing unnecessary distress. On the other hand, I felt glad to be able to be so confident in telling John, “the congregation will respond!” My certainty is born of long experience in seeing you happily cook and serve dinners, prepare and deliver lunches, donate blankets, sheets and pillows, and even volunteer to spend a night at the church (for the sake of shelter security). The guests have been touched by your care and concern in the past, and they will be again. You have trained yourselves to be a faithful group of generous Christians. I’m making an early resolution to keep the good habits (expressing love through action) and change the less helpful ones (forgetting to tell others that they will have help). Once again, you all have been my teachers! I look forward to sharing with you the many joys and traditions of the Christmas season. I’ll see you in church, and at the shelter! God’s peace be yours, Pastor April |
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