{"id":6089,"date":"2014-01-31T12:33:23","date_gmt":"2014-01-31T20:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/?p=6089"},"modified":"2014-01-31T12:35:47","modified_gmt":"2014-01-31T20:35:47","slug":"defining-hospitality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/defining-hospitality\/","title":{"rendered":"Defining Hospitality"},"content":{"rendered":"

By R. Preston Price*<\/h3>\n
\n

If I were to define hospitality, I would simply say, \u201cDes Moines United Methodist, Des Moines, Washington.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Before Bishop Jack Tuell died, he and his wife, Marji, made the clear decision that his service was to be held at Des Moines United Methodist Church, Des Moines, Washington.\u00a0 It was less than a mile from where they were living and, most importantly, it was their home church \u2013 a place where they had participated for more than a decade.\u00a0 So, when Bishop Tuell died, an invitation went out to Church members to help.\u00a0 Over 50 showed up at an orientation meeting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prior to the service, members worked for days sprucing up the Church building and grounds and clearing out rooms of accumulated items.\u00a0 Permission was obtained to use the nearby elementary school for parking so members could park there and visitors could use the Church lot.\u00a0 On the day of the service members in reflective vests (bought for the occasion) were deployed to all the parking lots to direct traffic.\u00a0 Two youth in those same vests were stationed at the curb drop-off to help people get off shuttle busses and out of cars.\u00a0 A youth opened the outside doors whenever someone approached.\u00a0 There was a team of greeters just inside to offer a warm welcome and point out restrooms and coat racks.\u00a0 Another set of volunteers were at tables handing out Orders of Worship and Remembrance Cards.\u00a0 A full corps of ushers was in place in the sanctuary and two overflow rooms.\u00a0 The head usher had developed a timed duty list for all the small things that make a service go well such as closing curtains and removing reservation ropes over pews.\u00a0 Rooms for the family and the bishops were in perfect order with coffee and water.\u00a0 A special rack was placed in the bishops\u2019 room for coats and robes.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, another group was preparing the fellowship hall with drink tables in all four corners of the room and mostly homemade cookies including labeled sugar-free and gluten-free varieties.\u00a0 There were members in every hallway to point out restroom locations and answer any questions.\u00a0 Another team prepared video recording and live streaming capabilities with at least three cameras.\u00a0 A combined choir was rehearsed and robed.<\/p>\n

As the hour for the service approached the eulogist, Bishop Grove, was to wear Bishop Tuell\u2019s robe (video of the service can be found below; the eulogy begins the 21 minute mark<\/em>).\u00a0 But it had been stored in a suit bag and was horribly wrinkled.\u00a0 One word of concern led to opening the wedding hostess\u2019 closet to set up ironing board and iron.\u00a0 Within minutes Bishop Grove had a fresh robe.\u00a0 At the same time, ushers were handling numerous walkers and wheel chairs \u2013 storing them nearby prepared to retrieve and deliver them at the end of the service.<\/p>\n

Family from many states, eighteen bishops, and many others flew and drove to the service.\u00a0 They were welcomed with graciousness and care.<\/p>\n

There was no barking of orders or harried running around \u2013 just a loving, creative response to welcome visitors and honor the family they had come to know and love.\u00a0 They were a living, breathing definition of purposeful, creative hospitality!\u00a0 May their tribe increase!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

R. Preston Price is a member of California-Pacific Annual Conference and Verger for the service.<\/em><\/p>\n