Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada

We are in the early weeks of the Hospitality Project at Dunbar Heights. Since the initial excitement of Welcome Back Sunday, it has been a bit challenging to “get launched”. As I am sure many congregations are facing, this community is already in full swing now that everyone has returned from the more relaxed pace of summer. People are busy! To my mind, this is an interesting point to contemplate. What happens to a new project or initiative when the sense is that everyone is too busy to take on or even consider taking on one more thing? More specifically, does a hospitality ministry need to be a distinct ministry of its own or a quality of being that can be woven into and extended through all ministries in the church? Moreover, could welcoming be more about a way of being community rather than yet another “doing” on an already long list of “doings”?

My hope is that with this project at Dunbar Heights we are able to enhance the ability of an already extremely friendly congregation to BE intentionally welcoming and be able to stand as a model of welcoming that can be applied in other congregational contexts. My intention is that we focus at least as much on being as on doing. My hope is that we find an approach in this early stage of the project to nourish and support the members of the community rather than depleting them. I pray that we will learn together how to make room for what we say is important to us - even in the midst of busyness. I know I certainly need to learn to create space, make room and set aside time. Can anyone else relate?

Another challenge I have identified is logistical. Given that my home congregation is elsewhere, I am at Dunbar Heights for Sunday morning service some weeks - but not all. I have been reflecting on how best to create a sense of connection and have landed on the idea of establishing regular office hours at the church so as to participate a little in the flow of the community. I also plan to begin to be in print and electronic communication with the community by means of bulletin announcements/inserts and posting information to the church web site. These pieces may include tips, resources, or poetry as well as announce dates of specific hospitality team events. These events might include a meeting, a building audit “walk-about”, or a workshop, depending on what people in the congregation indicate is their focus or vision for hospitality at Dunbar Heights. I welcome your suggestions and feedback.

For more information about Dunbar Heights United please see www.dunbarheightsuc.ca