A Sacred Hangout Spot
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
I had 45 minutes to spare last Saturday, so I stopped by a Starbucks for a coffee. When you pay, they make it hard not to leave a tip of 20% or more. Ouch! I left the 20% tip on my coffee order. I was sitting at a table right next to where one picks up the items ordered. After five minutes, they left me a brownie in my name, which I didn’t order. Ten minutes after that, I had to go up again and request my coffee. No apology, and after making further drive-through coffees, I finally received my order. There were no other customers inside the coffee shop.
My recent experience reaffirmed a magazine article from Inc., Starbucks has been struggling because its focus has been on the drive-through and pickup traffic, at the expense of the customers who used to hang out inside their shop. Starbucks CEO is trying to re-create what formerly made Starbucks successful, what the CEO described as “the 3rd place people go to sit and be; behind home & work.” The article’s author and the CEO described the need for Starbucks to return to being a hangout spot; otherwise, customer loyalty will continue to decline.
Christian Churches that do not have “mega” as a descriptor may feel like they have less to offer, but that is not true. Churches like ours and smaller churches have an easier time being the place, as the TV show “Cheers” used to say, “where everyone knows your name.” In our age of isolation brought on by social media, local congregations can be part of the answer. We honor God in our worship, we educate our congregation on the Bible and how to respond faithfully, and we are to offer compassion. Westminster provides numerous profound missions of care and justice in our community. We also care for the lonely and isolated through our programming.
I am awed by how many times church members seek out visitors and invite them to come into the Commons after church and get to know them. I love it when a member brings a visitor up to me and introduces them to me, even though they have just met. Today, think about ways you can make yourself available to others. Step out of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to someone you don’t know in the pew, or attend an event and make sure you visit with several people. Giving yourself to others is a profound way of giving your life to God.
