Terri & Steve Moon live in "one of the smallest houses on the block." But they want you to know that sometimes cozy hospitality is the best kind. Here Terri points to a recent experience when she and Steve bravely opened up their home to an Anselm Society event, and they invite you to consider doing the same.
All Our Efforts Were Worth It
By Terri Moon
Our little living room was buzzing with conversation as Susan walked in the door. She had never attended an Anselm Society event nor even stepped inside my home. We introduced ourselves and I showed her the table in the dining room which was spread with snacks and drinks. To help her feel welcome, I tried to imagine how she might feel. It took courage for her to sign up for an event when she don’t know anyone who would be there. That’s when I thought to introduce her to Evangeline, a long-time Anselm member. Before the evening was over, I could see in Susan’s smile that she had found some kindred spirits and some encouragement.
My house is one of the smallest on my block, and it was cozy sharing the living room with 12 people that summer evening. As the gathering—the first of a three-class course on poetry called “Wrestling with God”—began, everyone sat down in the mismatched chairs I had pulled out from different rooms in the house. One couple shared the piano bench. I was a little worried that they might be uncomfortable, but I could see that John, with a cup of tea in hand, was captivated as he listened to Michelle Drake begin to unpack Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poetry.
My husband and I were there listening in from the back too, which was another wonder, because I don’t think Steve would have signed up for a poetry class by himself. He had never heard of Hopkins before this night. Here we were though, in our own home, and it was easy to participate. With Michelle’s gift for teaching, the encounter with poetry and the opportunity to connect with other people was life-giving. We’re looking forward to the next meeting and one more, wrapping up the series. (It sold out quickly but Anselm Society members have access to the audio recording of the first class here.
In the culture in which we find ourselves today, people really long for connection and fellowship, the opportunity to share an evening of conversation about things that matter to them. They might be looking for a safe place to ask questions, or a kindred spirit who shares a love for the same book or piece of music that they’ve enjoyed. These kinds of connections can happen in a church building, but I find that it’s a special privilege to watch interactions like this take place in my own home.
Being a part of this makes me realize that it is worth every minute of the time that I spent preparing for the gathering. It does take a little effort and a bit of courage to be a host. But every time my husband and I have done this, we’ve felt that the blessing to us has far outweighed our investment. And, it’s one of the small steps that we’re trying to take to be intentional about beginning to embody the Christian Imagination in our own space, in our own lives.
The Anselm Society is looking for likeminded people in this season who are willing to join in our mission. If you would like to help bring the Christian imagination to life in your home and would be willing to host one of our small events, we have tips and tools to help you get started. Being a host doesn’t require a big or fancy house. You don’t need to be an expert in the topic that will be discussed or knowledgeable about the art that will be shared.
Anselm has a wonderful group of people who love presenting and discussing engaging topics. All they need is a small space to share it in. If you care about people and can welcome them to your home, then you are qualified! You will be offering a cup of cool water to someone who needs it, and God will be ready to meet them, and you, in the adventure!
To learn more, visit our Volunteer information page here.
To learn more about what providing hospitality might entail, visit here.
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Terri Moon is a classically trained violinist, performer, and teacher. She has served, with her husband, Steve, on the leadership team of the Anselm Society for a decade.
Terri has written on the topic of hospitality before. You can read her essay about hosting the singer-songwriter Matthew Clark here at Cultivating. Also, Terri and Matthew, along with S.D. Smith and Jennifer England, participated on a panel about hospitality called "The Enchanted Home" at the 2021 Imagination Redeemed Conference. Members can view the video here.