Hospitality

One of the hardest things about being active and invested in a community like Holy Covenant UMC is that we are always in flux. Like our neighborhood and the great city that surrounds it, our makeup is never the same from day to day. We are welcoming new people daily. And we are sending them off with our love almost as often. The following is a letter I received last week just before we sent Todd Peacock-Preston off with God’s blessings on the next leg of his journey to Seattle.  I wanted to share it with you (with permission) because, even though it is addressed to me, it isn’t really just for me. These words are yours for the ministry you have done here. I hope they bring you as much joy as they did me. And I hope they serve to reiterate the kind of impact we have in living into our identity as a teaching congregation.

Abundant Blessings,

Pastor Matthew

Dear Matthew,

I am Todd Peacock Preston’s mother.  I have written this ‘thank you’ letter in my mind a million times over the last few years and like many things now find myself with a deadline – for he is leaving Chicago so I am putting pen to paper so to speak.  Todd is our third child and only boy, his sisters are 9 and 7 years older – so at times he has had 3 moms – telling him what to do!  Our family is very close and it seems the older they/we get the closer we are.

Five years ago, when Todd got into DePaul and moved to Chicago (1000 miles away from home)– our one request was that he become involved in a church.  Pretty quickly he visited Holy Covenant but did not feel it was just right and visited the Downtown UMC.  I am not sure how it happened but within a few months he found his way back to HC – I believe very strongly it was a ‘God thing’.

Ed and I have raised loving, strong, independent, faithful and creative children – but we have known from the get-go that we could not raise them alone.  So in each of their lives there have been very special people that have supported them in ways that Ed and I were just not able to do and for that we thank God.  For Todd, that support came in the shape of a very special church – Holy Covenant – and for that we thank God daily.  Todd went to Chicago a young boy in many ways and is leaving Chicago as a strong, confident and content man – thanks to HC.

You see, Todd needed to see himself separate from us – his nuclear family – yet loved and respected for who he is by his church family.  And he has.  We heard all about Kate’s sermons, Andrew’s music choices, Matt’s asking to meet for coffee, Troy and Walter taking him to lunch, this year’s General Conference and the activities around the Pride month – for years!  When he came home and visited our church – we would have lunch discussions about inclusive theology (our church’s isn’t) and what it means to be a part of something not just accepted.  HC has touched our family in ways that most churches just dream of ‘touching’ people.  When we come to town – we leave after church on Sunday – to worship with Todd.

One of my goals is to see the communion table you asked him to build.  We all have blood, sweat and smiles in that table!  You will never know what that single act of asking him to make that table did to securely ground his faith in God and humanity.  HC has been the complete embodiment of Christ on earth for our family.  And for that we will be eternally grateful to you and each member of the church.

As Todd worships with you and HC for the last time this week before his move, I want you to know how much it has meant to me as Todd’s mom to know that he has had HC’s support – unconditionally – HC has given me comfort – knowing that you were there for him and our family.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I have a feeling our paths will cross again – you have been too important in our lives…keep passing it forward..

With deep sincerity and love –

Ginger Peacock Preston

Dear Holy Covenant Community,

What do you think of when you hear the word hospitality?

Bringing food or making coffee? This is part of it, but more broadly:

Hospitality means WELCOME.

The root word gives us “hospital” and “hospice”, places of healing and comfort. Hospitality is about sharing food, but it also means offering safety, openness, and acceptance. Christ calls on us to welcome ALL people as if we are welcoming him.

What does this mean on Sundays? Simply that we are called to be a community of WELCOME to all who enter, from handing a newcomer a bulletin to volunteering in the nursery to breaking bread in the gallery. The work of the church is to welcome all in the name of Christ, and as his body, we are called to use our hands to do the welcoming work. What a joy and privilege it is to greet the image of Christ in others!

What can you do? First, pray that we may truly be a community of welcome. As we make some changes in our leadership and vision around hospitality, pray that leaders would rise up to take on this important ministry. Second, lend your hands! We are in need of people to be greeters, provide food and clean up after services, and volunteer in the nursery at 9:30. Contact Rebecca if you can serve. We are especially in need of people to greet this Sunday and next. Third, let me know if you have a particular call and passion around leading this ministry.

May we be a people who take ownership of our community and our mission so that we embody our call to truly love (and WELCOME) all people.

See you Sunday and think about who you can bring with you.

Grace and Peace,
Kate

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Dear Holy Covenant Community,

Receive these words from the letter to the Hebrews:

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it-Hebrews 13:1,2

We know what it’s like to be a stranger-moving to a new city, starting a new job, venturing nervously into a new church.  What a difference hospitality makes when we are warmly welcomed! This fall, as newcomers enter our doors, let us be a community who welcomes others with open arms.

If you’re new to Holy Covenant, I hope you’ll take advantage of these opportunities and feel warmly welcomed.  If you’re a regular, take a look below and pray about how you can serve our ministry of hospitality so that no one is a stranger in our midst.  How can we provide hospitality?

*Know what to tell newcomers!
-We have a discovery lunch every 1st and 3rd Sunday after the 11:15 service.  This is a time to get to know people, share your gifts and interests, and hear more about Holy Covenant and how you can get involved.
-Welcome Wagon Fellowship Brunch 2nd Sunday of the month after the 11:15 service.  All are welcome to go out to brunch, dutch treat, and enjoy the company of your fellow congregants.

*Sign-up for greeting and hospitality!
Be the friendly face who welcomes people into our doors.  Opportunities to serve include greeting at all 3 services, providing hospitality (food and/or drink), and cleaning up. Check out the calendar of sign-ups and e-mail Ellen to sign-up

*Sing in the choir!
ALL are welcome to sing and you don’t have to commit every week.  Join this fun and gifted group for Monday rehearsal at 7pm and sing in the 11:15 service on Sundays.  Enhance our worship so that everyone is welcomed with music. Contact Andrew for more information.

*Try the “Sunday’s Scripture” small group
Join me on Wednesday evenings at the church, 7-8:30, as we explore the Scripture for the following Sunday. No preparation or sign-up necessary-we’re a drop in format so you are welcome anytime.  A great way to check out a small group format, get a taste of the Bible, and help shape worship.

Don’t hesitate to be in touch with any questions, concerns, or needs.  I’m grateful to be part of a community that welcomes all into our doors with open arms.  Thanks be to God!

See you on Sunday and think about who you can bring with you.

Grace and Peace,
Kate

Holy Covenant asks you to bring in a wide variety of items to support us in our quest to reduce, reuse, recycle, provide for our congregational community, and care for our greater community.

If you have any of these, bring them in!

CINDER BLOCKS NEEDED
Holy Covenant needs cinder blocks for a Lent project! Have a few in your basement? Willing to schlep them to church by February 20th? Let Rebecca Anderson know.

HOT CUP SLEEVE DRIVE
The Green Team and Hospitality have partnered up to start a coffee sleeve drive at Holy Covenant. Please bring in your used hot cup sleeves so we can offer them at the coffee station during hospitality! When using a sleeve during church, please remember to return the sleeve to its basket before tossing your cup. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

BRING US YOUR CORKS!
The Green Team will be collecting wine corks, both natural and synthetic, in the coming year. For every cork collected, Terra Cycle will donate 2 cents to Holy Covenant United Methodist Church. There is a box in the gallery labeled “Cork Collection”. Please bring in any wine corks you have (or your neighbors have, or your local restaurants have) to be donated to this worthy cause!

COAT DRIVE
Holy Covenant is collecting coats for those in need that will be distributed to Dignity Diner guests every Tuesday. Please bring adult coats (L-XL), mittens and gloves (no scarves or hats) to the church and place at the bottom of the basement stairs. We will collect coats through the winter so that as many as possible will receive the gift of warmth. Questions? Please contact Walter Treash.

HAVE PICTURES OF HOLY COVENANT? SEND THEM IN!
We would love to look through your photos and possibly pick out a few for the church’s website! Mission events, social events, hospitality or small groups — if you have any, send them to Katie Cook.

In addition, something you do every day can benefit Holy Covenant:

SEARCH THE INTERNET, GIVE TO HOLY COVENANT!
Every time you search the internet through www.goodsearch.com, the site will donate 1 cent to HCUMC. Just go to the site, enter Holy Covenant to verify, and then search away! It’s free and easy to use for you, and Holy Covenant receives a donation at the end of the year. Many sites also offer a % donation if you make a purchase. So search away, which you do anyway, and give to the church. Their motto is: You search, we give.