Is this true for you? Is your home a place where you are safe and an oasis? Is it a place you can be authentic and vulnerable?

Tragically, for some of us home is not this kind of place. Home dredges up feelings or memories of pain and hurts. Home is not safe, but a minefield of danger.

When I think about my church, I long for our church to be a place where people can call home. I long for our ministry to a place of warmth and safety. I long for someone to come and find rest from the stresses of work; to reset and recharge for the upcoming week.

Home is a loaded word; full of mixed feelings and histories. But my hope and prayer is that we can say “Welcome Home” and it will evoke emotions of warmth and love, full of the grace of Christ.

Friends, welcome home.

Lord, Help your church to become a place of safety and security. Help your church to be a home away from home, a place to gather with those we love so we may encourage and stir each other up to follow after you.