A few weeks ago, I decided to try out a ukulele meetup in Somerville. I’m not very good at the ukulele. (I’m really only confident with one chord.) But I’d like to be good at the ukulele, so I went to the event.
I didn’t know anyone else who was going to be there. I wasn’t sure where the event was located or where I would park or which door I should enter. I didn’t know what to wear or if I was expected to bring something (maybe like a music stand) with me. I wasn’t sure if I should arrive early or if this was the kind of event where most people arrive fashionably late. I was a little worried they might ask me to lead a song, or stand and introduce myself, or sit in front. I wanted to be noticed – but not too much — if you know what I mean.
I had the same anxieties most visitors have the first time they check out a church.
So let me tell you what happened – because I experienced hospitality in a way that I hope people visiting Faith might experience:
- The group expected me. Well they didn’t expect me personally, but it was clear they expected visitors. There were extra songbooks, music stands, and even ukuleles.
- A friendly older guy walked around the room, greeting people, and offering nametags. Everyone wore a nametag – no one assumed that people already knew each other.
- About ten minutes before the gathering started, one person started an impromptu clinic – anyone who wanted to learn a few more chords was invited to join in. I chose to sit it out – and that was okay.
- I offered up to the leader that I really only knew the C chord – the leader smiled and said that was great – that I could play the C chord whenever it showed up and that I’d probably learn a couple more chords in the course of the evening. (At one point, without pointing me out to the rest of the group, he introduced a song by saying, “And this song has a lot of C chords!”).
- At the end of the evening, as we were packing up, someone said, “I hope to see you again!”
Nothing earth-shattering happened. But I felt welcomed. I felt accepted.
And I will go back again.
In Christ,
Pastor Jen