On a recent vacation, we did something different: we decided to bring our baseball gloves, a bat and a ball, and go down to the campground baseball field and hit a few balls, maybe play a casual game.
As we were playing, a couple kids came up to the fence and watched us. Soon they asked, “Hey can we join in?” We said sure, and they did.
More kids came, and their families. We laughed and cheered each other on. We weren’t keeping score; we were just having fun.
What great image for the church. We have this family that we love and enjoy so much. But we are always called to widen the circle and invite more people in.
When someone is standing at the fence and asks, “Hey can I join in?” the answer should always be “Yes!” When they come, we should cheer them on and encourage them.
Soon, they’ll see what it means to live in the heart of grace. And, in the process, we will too.
This message is excerpted from “Knock it out of the park when you welcome others to church” by Amy Vigesaa from the May 28, 2018, blog of the Women of the ELCA.
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