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“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me…” Matthew 10:40

The Welcoming Prayer by Father Thomas Keating

Welcome, welcome, welcome. I welcome everything that comes to me today because I know it’s for my healing. I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons,situations and conditions. I let go of my desire for power and control. I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, approval and pleasure. I let go of my desire for survival and security. I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person or myself. I open to the love and presence of God and God’s action within. Amen. 

This Welcoming Prayer that our adult education director, Denise McClellan, shared to kick off our September Adult Playlist focused on “Welcome” reminded me of this meditation. It is actually not an easy practice to welcome everything that comes our way, but it is valuable for us. 

I have been using a meditation app recently to calm my mind and spirit in these turbulent times. One of the meditations focuses on welcoming anything that comes our way, even painful emotions, and greeting it with tender loving care. As you breathe in, you think “calm” and as you breathe out, you think “smile.” You give thanks for and welcome the moment you are in and focus on being grateful to be human, free, and alive. It brings great peace. 

We can think about inner welcome and outer welcome. Inner welcome is the way we accept ourselves, our circumstances, and what comes our way. Outer welcome is the ways we accept others, greet others, include others, and provide hospitality. Jesus advises the disciples that when we welcome others openly, we welcome him into our hearts and lives as well. 

The photo I shared today is just for fun. But it was a welcome surprise from a barista in Phoenix.  I ordered a cappuccino and expected a foam flower but instead I was greeted with this whimsical smiley ghost! It made me laugh and also made me feel warmly welcomed into the coffee shop. We will spend September thinking about how we welcome others, Jesus, and ourselves. May we practice this Welcoming Prayer each day and may it bring us much needed peace.

Welcoming you,

Pastor Andrea