Hospitality Begins with Each of Us

Barbara Hastings, Parish Administrator

One of the things that impressed me most about the Chapel of the Cross when I came to work here was the way in which this parish uses the gift of its buildings to do God's work in the community. The building is open almost continuously, and we are allowed to be stewards of a gift from God.

This parish readily accepts its role of stewardship. You give your money and time to support the operating needs of the parish and many activities within the parish and in the community. However, stewardship also requires hands-on involvement in things that might not be glamorous or exciting. Stewardship often involves doing the small tasks necessary for the building always to be ready for the next group to use the space. Each of us has the responsibility to leave the space we use in better condition than we found it. Our cleaning staff comes in five nights a week to clean. We no longer have a sexton or housekeeper on staff during the day to do the small things that are not the responsibility of the cleaning crew. Thus, all of us who use the building need to do our part.

Let me give you some examples of ways that you can be a good steward and make our building more welcoming.

• Could you help in the kitchen by leaving it the way you would like to find it (whether that's how you found it or not)? Several of our staff and volunteers recently spent the equivalent of two days cleaning cabinets, putting away dishes and organizing them for efficient use. Generally, you'll find everyday china in the dishwasher room, frequently used items in the pantry and kitchen cabinets, items for receptions as well as glass dishes in the buffet by the kitchen, infrequently used items under the mirror, and paper supplies and trash bags in the closet by the fireplace. There are charts in the kitchen on the refrigerator and bulletin board that show where items may be found.

• Would you be sure the dishes and utensils you use are washed, dried, and put away? Administrative staff members spend several hours a week away from their usual jobs picking up and putting away items left out by parishioners. Charts in the kitchen will help you find the proper place for most items.

• If you take trash to the trash house, please tie the tops of the bags so the trash doesn't fall out if the bag turns over. Our facilities manager has to put spilled trash back in the bags before the garbage men will take it. It's an unpleasant job that can be prevented with a little forethought.

• If you see something not working properly or needing attention, would you write it down and leave it in my mailbox, Tom Mander's mailbox, or in the slot in the office door? You often see things that we don't because there are many of you and only a few of us. We would rather have something reported more that once than not at all.

• Could you straighten your meeting room at the end of your meeting by throwing trash away and returning items you use to their proper place? We frequently lose equipment within the building because it was left out or not returned to the place from which it came.

• Could you push down the trash in an overflowing trash can or do some of the other small things that make the building look neater?

All of this may sound picky, but we each have a part to do. It's often the little things that are the most worrisome. If we all make it our job to be good stewards in whatever way we can, God's house will be a more welcoming place for everyone.

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© 2005 The Chapel of the Cross