Hospitality Committee
"Let mutual love continue.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it."
(Hebrews 13:1,2)
Hospitality is an important part of life at Saint James’. Parishioners are invited to serve as hosts for the Sunday coffee hour, the monthly fellowship dinners, and “Lunch Bunch,” a potluck held monthly. This enjoyable and worthwhile ministry can be done as a family or with other parishioners in the church.
The purpose of the Saint James Hospitality Committee is to plan and implement social events pertaining to the church at large. Some examples of such events include receptions for confirmands, Bishops, or visitors, as requested by Fr. Ballard, Saint James Day celebrations, other functions as requested. These events can range from formal receptions to picnic-style gatherings.
“Good to Know” information: If a reception is being planned, the committee makes every effort to involve as many parishioners as possible. A sign-up sheet (with food categories listed) is posted on the bulletin board near the conference room and an announcement of the event and where/how to sign up should be made in the weekly bulletin. Helen Cowan (Rentals Rentals) is a member of Saint James and she is always very happy to supply cloths, dishes, glasses, etc., for events when possible. She should be contacted well in advance of the event, especially during a busy holiday or wedding seasons. Other duties: The committee is responsible also for posting flyers and announcements to encourage people to host coffee hours and the monthly lunch bunch.
St. James is a caring church and shows many acts of hospitality. For example: our Doorstep Ministry, Helping Hands, Mobile Meals, our Coffee Time which is really Hospitality Time after the 10:30 service where we show hospitality in addition to serving light refreshments. Other acts of hospitality are our hospitality to newcomers, our outreach to the sick, lonely and bereaved. Greeters are an act of hospitality, ushers, helping a newcomer through the prayer book. These are only a few of the many acts of hospitality St. James shows to strangers as well as parishioners and newcomers. Each day the staff listens to the stories of the many strangers God sends our way, and each day, all of us can do this for each other. In Taylor Caldwell's book The Listener she writes:
"people's real need, their most terrible need, is for someone
to listen to them, not as a 'patient,' but as a human soul."
This is practiced at St. James. Do the above acts of hospitality make you look at hospitality in a different light? Those who offer hospitality to the stranger often receive more than they give—I know that I have. I believe that we all have entertained angels without knowing it.
– Contact: Judy Householder