It’s fairly common for the doors of the church to open up Saturday evening through our Room in the Inn ministry. Emmanuel UMC has been in the rhythm of hosting every week in the winter-shelter season and then monthly in the summer. That adds up to about 26 weeks a year.
Earlier in the week, the plan had been for our guests to stay at the Germantown UMC Cottage as a more practical place for women and children in the summer months, but then their air conditioning went out. Plans shifted, and Emmanuel’s gym became the place where we would gather, eat, sleep, and offer hospitality.
Then, just after 5 p.m., just as the van was beginning to pick up our guests, the storm came through. The unexpected wind and rain ripped through Memphis. Across our community, homes and businesses lost power. For many people, what had been an ordinary Saturday evening suddenly became an inconvenience, an emergency, a night of uncertainty; thus, a much needed night to offer extra room.
The call to holy hospitality does not stop when circumstances become difficult. If anything, it becomes even more important. So while many of us were without power and our usual plans for Sunday morning worship had to change, amazing disciples were at Emmanuel doing the work of the church. They were preparing beds, offering food, welcoming guests, cleaning up, making sure neighbors were cared for, and staying through the night into Sunday morning.
There may not have been a worship service on Sunday, but worship candles from the sanctuary were illuminating the dinner
table with our guests. For the past several weeks, our worship series has been called “Gather Us In.” We have reflected on what it means for God to gather people together—around a common mission, learning our sacred scriptures, committed to others who need community, grace, and a place to belong.
This weekend, “Gather Us In” held a certain irony as we postponed our special Music Sunday and waited for power to be restored to the building… but our guests were already at the door. God guided them safely for the night. Sometimes we imagine gathering as something that happens when everything is prepared just right. The lights are on. The plans are in place. The room is comfortable. Everyone knows where they are supposed to be. But sometimes gathering happens in the middle of a storm.
As we often need to be reminded, the church is not only the place where we gather for worship. The church is the people who, when the unexpected happens, show up. The church is the people who stay late, get up early, prepare another plate of food, find another blanket, and make space for someone else. That is holy hospitality.
Gather us in, Lord, when life is going according to plan. But also gather us in when the storms come. Gather us in when we are tired, inconvenienced, and uncertain. And then give us the grace to become the people who gather others in. This weekend, despite the disruption, Emmanuel did exactly that. Thanks be to God.