Author: Michele Minehart (Page 160 of 311)

But what has been striking about this church is the free stuff. Now, I’m all about prizes and giveaways. I once shared that the free bagels awaiting me at the finish line prompted me to actually complete my second half marathon. I was one of those kids who walked around the fairgrounds collecting whatever my good elected officials willingly gave away. 

However, this church has taken the gifting to a new level. H Boy got a t-shirt (which he’s insisted upon wearing, 3 sizes too big), we had a fresh baked loaf of bread, fake flowers, an entire information packet, and a beanie baby handed to us in person. The first week we got a kind note from the pastor. And a gift card for gas. 

Yes, gas. Now, having sat through a multitude of staff meetings, I’m 97% positive I know how the decision to offer this gift was made:

So, the practical side of me gave a bit of grace for this seemingly strange welcome gift. 

But we got another letter this week from the pastor, with another gift card! This time DQ got the nod and we’re set to go for some Hot Eats and Cool Treats, or as the pastor mentioned in the card, take a friend for some fun. Which would be fun. If we had friends. 

I really appreciate the lengths at which this church will go to help us feel welcome. I appreciate their hearts, so I don’t want to poke too much fun. I would venture to say the Visitor Gift might be the plight of all hospitality teams. But having married Mr. Hospitality himself, JJ raised his eyes a bit to the attempt. And we both are asking: at what point are we no longer new and the free stuff stops? 

I think, in my nature of contemplating all things normal people tend to just write off, the reason it sits wrong is because a gift card – especially for something so practical – (sort of) misses the point of hospitality. We’re not looking for a free anything – we just want a church family. And in the church’s defense, it isn’t looking to just give stuff away. I think it’s just trying to figure out what hospitality and welcoming feels like now that society no longer lives a neighborly way of life. And the equation sits unbalanced. Until you’re actually looking for a church (something few to none of all pastors have done, I would guess), you don’t actually know how to walk in those shoes. 

I wish I could offer something concrete rather than criticisms (because honestly, that’s not fair). 

The DQ thing does sound like fun (though, to Staff Person A’s critique, we’re not eating a lot of dairy nowadays), and eating out in any form is a treat. You will always win this household with food. 

But I miss the personal nature of hospitality. I think if a church – or a family – wants to be hospitable, they invite someone over for dinner. Not a grand showcase or event, but just “we’re going to put some burgers on the grill, would you like to join us?” And though we might be a bit too set in our ways to change plans, the offer will meet appreciative hearts. And JJ will probably convince me to throw caution to the wind and go. Because of the churches we’ve visited and connected to, that has been a common denominator to him feeling an allegiance to return – the overall genuine welcoming nature of the people already there. 

Though I often say we currently live in a Big Town that believes it’s a Small Town, this weekend has proven I might classify it “small” thanks to local businesses. I love the networks that come from small shops and the way that I can participate in the community simply by shopping there. A brief review of the past 24 hours:

1. Strawberries from Fulton Farms. AMAZING. We’ve went twice so I can get enough to make some jam, per the husband’s request. The berries are bursting with flavor so we need to jam tonight. Then we also were able to get some flowers for out front and the last of the garden plants. 

2. Lunch at La Piazza with a friend. 

3. Stopping in Samozrejme to help sort diapers for the ReStash (so sad I missed the event – there were great deals on BumGenius!)

4. A mattress purchased from Francis, across the street from us. They were having a huge sale and beat Sam’s Club prices (I pre-shopped to have an idea). 

5. I’d hoped to stop into Stone’s Throw Market, the local coop we just joined, to pick up some spelt flour for the sourdough that’s prepping on my countertop (thanks to a local crunchy girls network). I’ll have to wait until Tuesday, I suppose… I’m so anxious for the online shopping that they’re going to offer – then it’s bagged and ready for you at pickup! GENIUS. 

As I was pulling away from Fulton’s, there were a few men out in “organic field #1” across from the market. You could tell they were contemplating their crop and doing some picking (I think it was the asparagus I also purchased on Friday, ready for our grill tonight). I thought, how nice that my slightly more expensive berries are allowing these guys to pay their bills and do what they do. Of course, I could’ve bought Meijer berries that were 4 for $5, but I ask, how are they able to sell so cheap? Well, they hail from South America, so I have a feeling that the nice men and women (and more likely, children) who did that picking weren’t paid the same wages of the men I saw in the field on Friday. Take into account the flashy packaging and the gas required to transport, plus company profits off the top, and we’re talking a pretty low working wage. 

Is it more expensive to buy local? At times. Shops can’t keep up with those who buy in bulk. But when you buy local, you’re not just walking out with a product; you’ve gained access to people who know more than you about what you need. And you’ve participated in growing a community that will be supporting and encouraging youth, students and even families in a variety of ways. 

But local businesses come through for your organization’s 5k sponsorship, the t-ball team’s jerseys, and the festival we look forward to each year. They buy the 4-H hogs to fund future college funds. They donate to the spaghetti dinner fundraiser for families to raise money for adoption or for medical bills when a little girl gets a cancer diagnosis. 

Small business owners practice what they preach. They know the value of community, of investing in people.