Evangelism through Hospitality Committee Update

Posted on by jimvondracek

When Augustana returns to its autumn schedule of Sunday worship services at 8:30 am and 10:45 am, and education hour at 9:30 am on Sunday mornings, we will also be returning to two Sunday morning gathering opportunities for Hospitality and Fellowship.

Feedback from the congregation assured us that two such gathering opportunities are desired and welcome on Sunday mornings, but to make them happen we need volunteers.

Please consider volunteering to host, on one or more Sundays:

  • either an Education Hour Hospitality and Fellowship gathering opportunity for the whole period between the 1st and 2nd services
  • or a Late Morning Hospitality and Fellowship gathering opportunity following the 2nd Service

Sign-up sheets are on the table in the Narthex, outside the Sanctuary doors. Near to the sign up sheets, there are also reminder notes for each sheet, with a copy of the information on the sheet. You can record your volunteer date(s) on one of these in the space provided, and take it home.

A comment about Education Hour Hospitality and Fellowship: This is, most certainly, not just a fellowship hour for the first service. It has, somewhat surprisingly, evolved into an opportunity to offer hospitality to several groups of people of all ages who, for various reasons, are in the church building in the time between the worship services. There are people who attend our education sessions, and grab a snack before or after class, and there are people who wait for them but do not attend classes. There are people who simply want to be in an uncrowded room, or in quiet company, for a while, or people who want unhurried conversations with one or two others. There are people who have been in the building from early morning and stay till early afternoon. There are people who come early for the second service and welcome being able to meet friends from the first service who come into the fellowship hall after Education sessions. For all these people and more, it is welcoming and hospitable to have refreshments available. People pause for refreshment and, behold, even when only two or twelve gather together, fellowship happens!