By JoAnn Flett, PhD
Today is the last day of September and this past month we focused on the theme of “welcome”. This is appropriate given that we are welcoming back students to SPU’s campus, and we also welcomed a new season, Fall.
So, I asked our CFB team, what does it mean to be people of welcome? Kate Barker shared, “Welcome is as much about the posture of the heart as it is embodied and actionable. I think this is why we know when we are truly welcomed by someone, we feel it!”
Alexis Gillam noted, “To make others feel welcomed, I focus on active listening, encouraging their thoughts, and engaging in meaningful conversations by showing genuine curiosity about what they have to say.”
Derek Braun offered, “Welcome has multiple forms. One is to be a welcoming presence, one that is encompassed with love for others. Another form of welcome is the acceptance of new seasons and times. Welcoming the Holy Spirit allows our hearts to provide a welcoming presence for others and for trying times.”
These are such beautifully crafted responses to the question. In this new academic year, our CFB team will focus on being people of welcome by thinking about how the Holy Spirit facilitates this work of welcoming in and through us. Thus, we will highlight a fruit of the Spirit each month.
October | Joy
November| Peace
December | Love
January | Patience
February | Kindness
March | Goodness
April | Faithfulness
May | Gentleness
June | Self-Control
You are invited to join us as we welcome the Holy Spirit who keeps us rooted in Christ. I’ll close by sharing that welcome means that we open ourselves to the genuine warmth and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. From the Spirit’s work we learn how to love God and to love neighbor as ourselves.
CFB friends, if you think of it, send us a note at cfb@spu.edu and let us know what it means to you to be a person of welcome. Perhaps you have examples of welcome and we’d like to hear about those and share them.
