"A Hero's Welcome" by Darleen Ortega

At the start of her message, Darleen invited several friends to help her read through four stories in Matthew and Mark. Darleen reflected on what it means to be welcoming. During the life of Jesus, people were expected to exclude others — in fact, this exclusion was considered a mark of holiness. Jesus, on the other hand, made a regular practice of including the outsiders. In the stories of Jesus, everyone is welcome and there is enough for everyone. What does it mean for WHF to be a welcoming community? How might we expand our understanding of what it means to be welcoming?