Holy Hospitality
THE REV. BETH FRANKLIN
Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The key to all we do as a community of Christ-followers is contained within our prayers, scripture, and actions on Sunday morning. It’s easy to forget that our worship itself serves as a dress rehearsal for the rest of our week. Take the post-communion prayer as shared in the text above, which happens after the meal has been served, the table has been cleared of all the dishes, and we are preparing to be sent out on our way. It’s one final opportunity to be reminded of what it is we’ve just done, and why. Jesus invites all to the table to be fed, and then to feed.
The spiritual food we consume certainly does not top the list of my culinary delights over the course of a week. It does set the tone for the impact of every other gathering where bread is broken. Communion helps us to ingest and digest the reality that we are living members of the Body of Christ. To be invited to this table week after week is to acknowledge that we are changed by the invitation, the mystery of the meal itself, and those with whom we share it.
At its deepest theological root, hospitality is an act of holy living. It is the intentional practice of extending God’s table, pulling up extra chairs, and creating space where every person—the lifelong parishioner, the curious neighbor, the seeker, and the stranger—feels seen, known, and cherished. To truly embody Being with One Another, we must commit to the practice of hospitality. We are called to invite people not just into our building, but into community with us—to walk alongside one another, to share our joys and burdens, and to grow together in faith.
The Rev. Maryetta Anschutz describes the root of our practice of hospitality more eloquently, “Abraham fed three strangers and discovered angels. Zacchaeus came down from a tree and found himself remade over dinner. A lavish, grace-soaked meal in Babette’s Feast thawed decades of bitterness in a tiny Danish village. A pub table at The Eagle and Child gave the world Narnia and Middle-earth. Even the Cuban Missile Crisis edged toward resolution because two men shared an unplanned meal and told the truth. Again and again, something shifts when people sit down together. Hearts soften. Curiosity replaces fear. Lives, communities—even nations—pivot. It is all small, subtle, holy.”
Because we believe so deeply in this call, I am thrilled to share an exciting step forward in our shared life. We are enhancing our staff with a Director of Hospitality.
Hospitality is very much already in the DNA of this community. This new role is dedicated to nurturing the culture of welcome that makes St. James’s feel like home. Our new Director of Hospitality will help us streamline how we greet newcomers, cultivate vibrant fellowship, empower our volunteers who serve as gifted hosts, and ensure that from the moment someone sets foot on campus, they experience the warmth and grace of Christ.
This hire isn’t a substitute for the hospitality each of us is called to offer—it is an investment in it. It’s about intention so that all of us can more easily reach out, connect, and invite others to join us on this holy journey of Being with One Another.
As we prepare to welcome our new director in the coming weeks, I ask you to join me in praying for this ministry and reflecting on your own role at God’s table. I wonder who in your life is longing for connection. I wonder who in our neighborhood is looking for nourishment.
When God’s mysteries are on the menu, we are assured that small, subtle acts of hospitality are indeed holy.