Envisioning Radical Hospitality

At the last Team Leaders and Staff meeting (February 24) we reviewed and continued the discussion started at our Leadership Retreat held at the beginning of February. Our discussion focused on how we can move into becoming a community of faith (consisting of several worshiping communities) that makes the practice of Radical Hospitality a number one priority. I have always linked Radical Hospitality with Extravagant Generosity (one example). Modeling Extravagant Generosity as a congregation is important for us to grow this holy trait in individuals. Nelson Searcy has written an article, Creating a Culture of Generosity, that gives some practical pointers from his own church. The article ends with some questions for reflection and discussion.

During our discussion I made some notes which I have been asked to share. So here they are. They are not pretty, complete, or polished. But I trust they will trigger memories and elicit responses, conversations, and the implementation of new ideas for practicing Radical Hospitality.


In addressing Issues of hospitality, how does each team plays a role?
Identifying problems - what hospitality issues keep popping up?
Getting the idea across that even if you serve an hour and your services aren't needed doesn't mean your time was wasted. "They also serve who only stand and wait."  (John Milton)
The importance of modeling Radical Hospitality (leaders first, members and regular attenders next)
How can we connect better (and help others to connect better) with our mission, vision, values?
Procedures in Care Ministry includes Guests and Members
First Impressions - Front Door Team - greeters / signage
ALL the doors.
Inside the Door - greeters - ushers - escorts
greeters inside and outside before and after services

Guest Hospitality Team

• Initial Contact with gift and information - 
• 2nd visit gets a postcard
• 3rd visit contact with Fellowship Friend

Fellowship friends - take on a family for three months - assigned after third visit

How to join - Is it too easy to join
Need to beef up new member procedure?
What do we want to cover at membership classes?
When and how often should we have the classes?

Announcements
* a nursery is available for you...
* bathrooms
Fixed column in bulletin about basic information and how to find things


Let the conversation begin. Please share.

Welcome to Horne Memorial

Horne Memorial
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We welcome you to be our guest at Horne Memorial UMC. Unless otherwise indicated we have worship services every Sunday morning. We offer traditionally styled worship at 8:30 and 11:00 in the Sanctuary. At 9:45 we have a worship service in the Fellowship Hall that is more contemporary and informal in style. (How to find us). Our Wednesday Evening Prayer Service will not meet during the summer months.

If you are new to Horne Memorial learn more about us at our regular web site.

Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Fiji Bans Massive Methodist Hymn-Sing | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Wow! When was the last time you heard of a government threatened by a bunch of Methodists gathering for a hymn fest!?

Fiji Bans Massive Methodist Hymn-Sing | Christianity Today

Fiji's military government has banned a massive annual hymn-singing contest and church conference out of fears that the crowd of some 10,000 singing Methodists could destabilize the strife-torn nation.

The government of interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has said the island nation's Methodist Church will not be allowed to hold its annual conference, which is preceded by a massive choral contest.

A Fiji court on July 23 silenced two top Methodist Church ministers and tribal chief Ro Teimumu Kepa. They were charged with defying the Public Emergency Regulation over the church's planned conference in August.

2009 Annual Conference Session Underway

You can get information online for the 2009 Session of the North Carolina Annual Conference a number of ways. You can follow the events of the sessions on Twitter. You can watch the video streams of the sessions and worship services. You can follow the blog. The handouts and materials are online and you can always start off on the main NC Conference web page. Pre-Conference Briefing Session videos are also available.

theherald-nc.com | More seeking free health care

At Horne Memorial we have been interested in the formation of a ministry helping people with medical problems in Johnston County. We are please that this ministry is underway and we are a part of it.

theherald-nc.com | More seeking free health care: "JOHNSTON COUNTY — Health-care providers face a rising tide of cash-strapped patients searching for cheap or free medical care. One free service in Johnston County has a backlog of patients, and county officials have seen a surge of people seeking Medicaid, Medicare and other public health programs.

“The phone is just ringing off the hook with people that have been unemployed,” said Kathy Rogols, executive director of Project Access. The program, which connects eligible patients with volunteer doctors, now has a waiting list of about 40 people."

We encourage you to read the whole article to learn more.

'Four Areas of Focus' online course opens

United Methodist Communications has launched a new, free online course about the denomination's 'Four Areas of Focus.' This self-directed online learning experience provides an overview of the four areas with opportunities for participants to explore the goals and examples of ways conferences and local churches are having an impact on these church-wide emphases of ministry.

Complete details about the online course, how to register, and a link to the downloadable PDF can be found at the UMCom training website (www.training.umcom.org).

If you need more information, have questions or would like this information in another format, please contact Cheryl A. Hemmerle, Coordinator of Training, United Methodist Communications, (888) 278-4862

chemmerle@umcom.org.

This year's Ash Wednesday sermon addressed how these four areas tie directly into the work and ministry we are doing at Horne.

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

There is a web site for the Five Practices study you may be interested in. This may especially of interest to those of you who are small group leaders or Sunday School class teachers doing the study this Lenten season. It provides all type of resources to help with the study. It may be of interest to all of you who are taking part in the study. Check it out.