Lisa Walker – one of my earliest and still one of my favoritest church choir directors – first taught me the meaning of the phrase “radical hospitality.”

In fact, I would almost venture out to the extremes of hyperbolic speech and call her lesson one in “militant hospitality.” 

But I won’t. That would be going a wee bit overboard.

I’ll begin today’s rumination by explaining that I LOVE to sing. Always have. Always will. Furthermore, some TOTALLY objective people (OK. I’m talking about Joan. My wife. Who loves me.) say mine is not the worst voice they’ve ever heard. 

But back to my story; So, there I was, sometime in the mid 80s, singing along during a worship service at Red Bridge United Methodist Church. I was likely picking out the bass part of the hymn and harmonizing along with the other folks singing melody. After the service a lady sitting in front of us turned around and said, “You certainly have a nice voice! You should be in our choir.”

I thanked her for her kind words and promptly thought nothing more of it. 

A few weeks later, there I was, collecting my things, preparing to leave church after a Sunday service when I was cornered by Lisa, the Red Bridge choir director. Lisa, who, by the way, still looks as lovely, vivacious, and professional today in 2023 as she did on that day more than 30 years ago, approached me, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “We NEED you in our choir.”

What could I say? I signed up on the spot and sang with that choir until the day I left for seminary.

That was the day I learned there is a BIG difference between saying “You are welcome here,” and, “We NEED you here.” It is the difference between a passive, almost apathetic brand of hospitality and the radical kind.

“You are welcome here,” is a message repeated in signage form by almost every Christian church in existence, (with apologies to First Congregational church UCC, pictured above). It is also weak sauce, as the kids say. In practice it really means, “If you happen to show up here some Sunday, we promise NOT to slam the door in your face.”

The message, “We need you here,” says, “Our community is incomplete without you. You possess gifts, talents, perspectives, and resources that will help make this a more vibrant and complete place. Please get here as soon as you can.”

“We need you here,” curiously enough, is also a sign I have NEVER seen outside a church. 

Too radical? Too desperate-sounding? Maybe it seems to you as if this phrasing is casting a little too wide a net? (Try telling that to the Net-Caster-in-Chief). 

So, thanks, Lisa. As you can see, your lesson made a huge impact on me that I have not forgotten all these years later. 

Now, if I could only figure out a way to put it into practice!

Abundant blessings;