We’ve not been feeding people all that much lately. I got a nasty virus after Christmas and seemed to lose steam all the way to Easter. Sunday lunches (our usual slot for planned hospitality) were confined to the Vicarage household plus Dreamer. And I almost began to think that it was too much hassle to have anyone else over on a Sunday at all.
But then, just a couple of weeks ago, we had a sunny weekend. And I was overcome with a desire to barbecue. And that seemed like an easier Sunday lunch to organise. So we invited a family we’d been meaning to invite over for ages. And then we thought about another family who we’d seen a lot over our Easter mission and the Vicar called them but they didn’t answer the phone. So then we invited someone else. And then the second family rang back. And we invited them too. And so it was that we ended up having 18 people for Sunday lunch.
And you know what? In the garden, with the old church hall trestle tables from the shed, lovely sunshine and lots of laughter, eighteen people seemed like a perfectly normal number. And after that, inviting a family of five for Sunday lunch this week didn’t seem like a big thing either. It was actually very lovely to talk to people and enjoy eating with them. Of course I knew that, but I’d forgotten. And then this week I read this lovely post about Scruffy Hospitality by Wesley Hill, and it helped me to remember that the purpose of hospitality is the cultivation of friendship, the sharing of lives. And cooking a bit of extra food is really not that much trouble. It really isn’t.
So I’m grateful this week for a renewed vision for hospitality: scruffy hospitality, messy hospitality, doable hospitality, just inviting people anyway hospitality, hospitality for the saints, hospitality for the stranger, hospitality without grumbling, hospitality that is a welcome and a blessing. And I’m praying that we’ll keep on getting together with the saints and with strangers, we’ll keep on inviting others into the Vicarage for laughing and talking and growing community, building the body. That’s my prayer this week.
The Vicar's Wife 
Thank you. Its nice to hear from someone else in a similar position- clergy spouse. We were just talking about offering hospitality to a couple wanting to get married but seeking assylum needing to pay extra for special license and yes its stepping outside of the expected.
Viv
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A thought provoking post. Thank you 🙂
Oh such a good reminder for me! Often, if we’ve had a hospitality slump (usually for very good reasons) it’s hard to break the ice again and get going. But it’s always GOOD when we do and then I remember why God encourages us to get into it in the first place.
We are a retired pair, and even before my husband was ordained, we practiced hospitality (I’d learnt this gift from my parents when they were in ministry, and before), and have always been so blessed. Our most recent addition to Sunday lunch (a natural time to invite visitors I’ve always found) was a very elderly couple visiting our church on holiday, who were so bowled over by being invited to join us and the other gentleman we had joining us, that they invited us to go with them last Sunday and enjoy lunch out. What a treat!
Thanks for sharing. It is so easy for me to lose focus on reaching out to others and being a light because I get so busy and focused on my own issues. Hospitality does good for those invited and the host because you can’t worry or focus on your own messy. Good stuff.
Just thought I’d let you know about an article I wrote that recommended your blog. http://laundryinthetemple.com/brits-searching-uk-christian-bloggers/
Do keep up the great work and check out the Facebook group mentioned for Christian bloggers in the UK. Thanks for your writing!
Thanks for the encouraging comments everyone. It has been great to revitalise our Vicarage hospitality these past few weeks. I must remember this in November when I can’t face cooking! Thanks too for the mention Jennnie. Will have a look at the FB group.