Welcoming the Stranger
Welcoming The Stranger
My husband and I arrived at Holy Spirit in November 2023. Post pandemic changes had left us adrift from our faith community of two decades, and we were looking for a place where we could fit in. My vision loss and my husband’s hearing impairment further added to the challenge of trying to find our way.
On our second visit, we filled out a newcomer card and were delighted to receive an invitation to meet the priest. Soon enough, we had the opportunity to join a class to learn more about the Episcopal church. And within a couple of months, we were invited to a dinner for those new to the parish. There, we were welcomed and introduced to some of the longtime parishioners. Attending coffee hour each week gave us the chance to meet and get to know more people. We were also provided with permanent, engraved magnetic name tags. This simple gesture created a feeling of inclusion by signifying that we belonged.
The concept of welcoming the stranger, or xenophilia, is deeply embedded in biblical narrative. Indeed, it is a cornerstone of Christian teaching. Time and time again, Jesus exhorts his followers to show love and compassion to those normally shunned by society. He healed lepers, spent time with women, dined with a tax collector, and defended those considered to be sinners. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, he illustrated the radical love that defined His ministry. Jesus taught that caring for those outside our social or ethnic boundaries is not optional. We must show compassion to all, even to those we see as other.
In today’s fragmented culture, it can be hard to find places where we feel that we belong. We can join Facebook groups, subscribe to YouTube channels or follow TikTok influencers. But little of this creates true human connection. We are a social species and require relationships with family and friends to thrive. As English poet John Dunne observed, “no man is an island.”
At Holy Spirit, my husband and I have found open arms and open hearts. Not only do we have a wonderful place to worship, but a community where we can make new friends. People have taken the time to learn what we like to do and have found ways for us to serve that use the gifts and talents that we bring. Holy Spirit parishioners embody Jesus’ mandate to welcome the stranger, and we thank God for the opportunity to be part of this community of faith.
--Sara Streeter