WE HEART STUDENTS: EMBRACING THE SPIRIT OF WELCOMING HOSPITALITY

Over the next few weeks, a phenomenon is happening around here that I am very unfamiliar with as a "newbie" to Bloomington. Classes are beginning, and half of the town's population is returning for another academic year. During this chaotic time, I have been forewarned to steer clear of Target and remain ever vigilant of vehicles with unfamiliar license plates headed the wrong direction down one-way streets. As the droves of students are busy buying boxes of Ramen noodles at the grocery store and unloading futons off of moving trucks, many of them will be searching for a place to call "home" in the midst of the uncertainty of major life changes. And it is from that group of students searching for community that some will walk through the doors of our place of worship in the weeks to come.

When those students file in to our church, how are we as a faith community making preparations to receive these guests with love?

To answer this question, during the upcoming weeks, I hope that you'll join us in offering hospitality by welcoming new faces, engaging them by asking questions, sharing with them about our Jubilee College Ministry, encouraging them to fill out connection cards, or asking for their contact information so that Travis or I can connect with them. In addition to these things, we'd like to invite you to purchase a "We Heart Students" t-shirt to wear on August 25^th, September 1^st and September 8^th. They'll be on sale in the Gathering Space, the Church Office, and at Open Door in-between services for $5.

These gestures might seem insignificant, but a genuine spirit of welcome and acceptance expressed to a new person goes a long way. A simple act of kindness can reveal a lot to a visitor about the culture of a faith community. One of my favorite theologians once said: "Welcome is one of the signs that a community is alive. To invite others to live with us is a sign that we aren't afraid, that we have a treasure of truth and of peace to share." As the influx of students return, I hope you'll be challenged and inspired to offer hospitality through sharing Christ-like peace in all of your encounters with new people, wherever you are.

- Sarah Sparks-Franklin