A person with the gift of hospitality is a person who has a special ability to focus
his or her attention on a guest.

As we have started looking at the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the past number of months, you may have at times been slightly confused. Confusion comes from an apparent confusion in our confessions and in the scripture. For example:  We are all called to be prophets, but there is a gift of prophecy. We are all called to be witnesses, but there is a gift of evangelism. We are all called to serve, but there is a gift of helping others. We are all called to give to the work of the kingdom, yet there is the gift of contribution. On one level we are called to practice these different aspects of being a Christian, on another level some of us are especially gifted at these tasks.

That is a fundamental distinction we all have to learn. Though there are many things that we have to practice, there are some things that we will be especially gifted at in the kingdom of God, our "specialization" so to speak. In our area of giftedness, we will find a special measure of joy in service, a fulfillment in doing the work, a greater effectiveness in ministry. It doesn't mean that we can forget about the other practices.  We will still need to practice them, work at them, grow at them, out of an obedience to Christ,  We will find that as we invest the small amount we have, the Lord will return it to us many times over.

In the area of hospitality, this is especially true. The Lord repeatedly instructs us to practice hospitality, infact one of the repeatedly mentioned qualities required to be an elder is the faithful practice of hospitality (Titus 1:8, I Tim 3:2). So to, the passage which we read this morning tells us to be faithful in the practice of hospitality.

Ushers are ministers of hospitality who play a key role in the living Body of Christ as the first contact believers have with the assembly when they arrive for service. How Ushers greet and welcome both newcomers and longtime parishioners makes a world of difference in how people prepare for the liturgy about to take place.

The hospitality that Ushers show in helping people find a seat, in collecting the gifts of money or in guiding the Communion procession must reflect the idea that the Church is our home. We are all members of the family of God, but at the same time we are all guests of God who calls us here. Ushers should come to service or events early to see that things are ready, to receive any special instruction.

The ushers of Grace UMC, are a group of volunteer men and women who serve as ministers of hospitality during Worship on Sundays, Holy days and special occasions, like Weddings. The ushers strive to insure the solemnity and tranquility of the liturgies. To accomplish this, their duties include:

1)     Greeting and welcoming parishioners and visitors

2)     Provide assistance seating the congregation for service

3)     Conducting the collections

4)     Directing the presentation of the offertory gifts

5)     Directing the congregation during Communion

6)     Providing assistance

7)     Checking for articles left behind and for litter in the seat and on the floor