“Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward”

“Welcome”...that appears to be the theme of today’s Gospel Reading, welcoming the prophet, and the righteous, and the disciple in us all.  Kind of nice fuzzy “welcoming”, and we will soon have the distinct pleasure and honor this morning of welcoming a newly baptized Christian into our midst …and that is both a joy-filled and awe-filled experiences as we all here get to renew our own baptismal covenant and think about our personal responsibility of welcoming others in Christ’s name to this table, this place, this space and in the world outside these heavy doors.

We, as baptized members of the Body of Christ are commissioned to both extend and expect welcome in our Christian life. Bill Tully, rector of St Bart’s on Park Avenue in Manhattan, has instituted what he calls “Radical Welcome”, a far reaching process of incorporating new members into the fabric of his large and very diverse congregation. St Bart’s has groups for young families, singles of all ages, book readers, singers, a parish theater group that mounts a series of musicals every year that sells out.  It houses a coffee shop/caterer and has a comprehensive Community Outreach.  Now I am not saying we have to follow in Tully’s foot steps, but his commitment to incorporating those who enter his church into the life of his parish is commendable.

Another kind of “welcoming” is to welcome the stranger among us and be gracious to all. This is sometimes trying for anyone like me who travels on the mass transit system of this city.  I realize that our Mayor recently stated that panhandling on the subways has gone down, I wonder what line he travels.  You are pretty safe from panhandlers on the express bus. The cost alone is prohibitive for any beggar on a budget. 

But the R train has its cast of characters, as does the 7 the 4 and the 6.  I do enjoy the 7 train’s Mariachi trio and the teen aged drummers and acrobats on the 4.  The R train holiday Doo-Wop guys peddle their CD and usually hop off at City Hall.  Oftimes there are just some folk looking for money.  I am prepared for them all.  I have put together what I call “Subway bags” sandwich sized zip lock bags in which I place a napkin, a personal toiletry item ( usually left over form a trip), and two more small items:  a box of raisins, a granola bar, a packet of dry cereal or a can of juice.  These things I get from Flo at the Food Pantry at Trinity Lutheran.  There are variations, once Flo gave me can of sardines…”Protein”, as she pointed out.  They did not go over well and are now stocked in my pantry.  Every once in a while I make myself a sardine salad sandwich on toast with a can of them.  Most folks like them and sometimes start a conversation around them.  After handing over a bag containing raisins and a box of rice krispies to the guy on the R train who looks like  Hedwig form the Harry Potter movies, he replied” Hey lady, this looks like breakfast, but where is the milk?”  The woman next to be said, “Be grateful, buddy, at least you got something!”  Sometimes welcoming is done begrudgingly.

Every Saturday the Soup Kitchen at Trinity Lutheran has been welcoming hungry people for over 25 years.  Back when our children were in the youth group at St Andrew’s we started to help serve lunch there.  At first we’d make tuna sandwiches and the kitchen crew would prepare soup, Big sit down dinners happened at holiday time. Soon Bob and I were there most Saturdays and we coordinated a rotating Rota of groups from St Andrew’s who prepared meals on a monthly basis. 

I met Chris Chariatis on a UFT bus trip one evening.  We had a conversation in which she said the women’s group at her church was looking to do something in the community and I gave her Mary's phone number and they soon became regular cooks, as did the Second Saturday Group from Christ Church that was spearheaded at that time by Colin Reid.  Back in those days, we were feeding about 35 to 45 people a week, and the food pantry gave out one bag of groceries per family to about twenty five families.

Times have changed and now we see anywhere form 90 to 150 people on a Saturday.  The pantry has a rotating list of families and averages 60 families a week.

And our guests have changed over the years: more families, more elderly, more recently unemployed.  But we still get those few who are difficult to welcome.

Max is a retired gentleman who likes to switch his seat after eating to confuse newer servers who wind up giving him two portions, sometimes more. “We can get as many desserts as we want”, he recently told a new volunteer and wound up with three pastries.

Tigger and his girlfriend Tinkerbell are also known for their love of sweets.  One afternoon I informed him that he could not have anther piece of pie, despite his protestations that he had not received his apportioned share.  “I gave it to my girlfriend,” he insisted. Ah, methinks, the age of chivalry is not dead.  Alas for Tigger the volunteer who had served him also saw him consume it in two huge bites

“I am sorry,” she informed him, “but you did eat it.”

“What ratfink said I ate it? It ain’t true”, he shouted jumping out of his seat and banging on the table.

The volunteer pointed to herself and said, “This Ratfink, that’s who.”  He fell silent, sat down and never uttered another word.
Recently a new young man began coming every Saturday to eat.  He is tall and thin with a head that looks like a well oiled catcher’s mitt surrounded by a shaggy mane of dark hair upon which rests a semi-new black baseball cap worn slightly askew with the silver manufacturer’s tag still intact.  He wears numerous rings on all of his fingers and more silver bangles around his wrists and a huge bubble faced watch. His clothes are dirty and worn; the belt around his waist keeps the too baggy pants form sliding off his boney frame.  I am sure he needs glasses because he spends quite a bit of time squinting at people. He gets packaged food form the pantry, trading anything that needs preparation with others online and keeping only thins he can open and eat.

One evening while sitting on the express bus on Hylan Blvd, I saw him pushing his grocery cart from behind St Dorothy’s Academy form the train tracks.  I mentioned that I had seen him there when he cam in the next week.  He nodded politely.  He sleeps under the station at Old Town.  Earlier this week, as I was walking down my street after getting off of the bus, I saw the same young man walking toward me. 

“Hello”, I said.  He looked up confused.

“Hello,” I repeated and pointing to me added, “Soup Kitchen?” thinking he would make the connection.

“Oh, yeah,” he said, “Soup Kitchen lady.  Yeah, how are ya?”  Then he added, “Do you live near here?”

“Yes,” I said, and realizing I was two doors from my home, a new fear came over me.

“Lord, I though, I don’t want him to know where I live!  What if he decided to knock on the door and ask to use the phone??? Or want to use the bathroom? Or take a shower” 

 Ismiled weakly and waited as he passed me and waited again to make sure he was down the block before I walked up the steps to the house.  And then I felt ashamed of myself.

This young man is sleeping under train platforms, eating at soup kitchens and trading food to get bread, raisins and juice to eat.  I have a home which I can heat or cool at will, and more than adequate food to eat.  I know that he needs professional help, help I cannot give him, to assist him in working out his demons.  And I also know that I should be able to at least find out his name and situation and make a few phone calls to see if anyone is able to help him.

So, I gave myself homework…something I usually give others to do.:

1. Find out  his name
2. Determine if he is competent
3. See if he is getting and services
4. Call PH with the information

And I am giving you some homework.  I know Father Chuck has also given you an assignment, also a welcoming assignment, but mine is complementary.

First, welcome our newest member of Christ’s body warmly and openly.  Recite your parts loudly and strongly.

Second:  if you travel on any kind of bus, ferry train or tram to wok and encounter someone looking for money, take one of my “Subway Bags” and once you give it out, share the experience with me.

Thirdly: volunteer to help out at the Soup Kitchen if you can.  Victor can always use some help on the Second Saturday, but if that does not fit into your schedule, come by at a time convenient to you.  All through the summer we need extra help.  Email me if you are interested.

Lastly, pray for us all as we struggle with this idea of “Welcoming” and what it means and how it can change us.

Amen