Page 84 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2018- Online Magazine

HONORING J.T. & MARGARET

T ALKINGT ON

ST. BENEDICT’S AND THE SACRED ACT OF HOSPITALITY

BY AARON DAWSON, BOARD PRESIDENT

History remembers St. Benedict of
Nursia (b. 480 A.D.) for the communities
of welcome he established across Italy.
Often in remote areas, these monasteries
carried a unique instruction to all who
lived there: “Your door must always
remain open to the stranger.” For the Sunday morning, all with the mission Today nearly 300 volunteers help
next 1600 years, the Benedictine monks to “Feed Body and Soul” of Lubbock’s annually to make St. Benedict’s happen.
would be known around the world for homeless, working poor, and food- Our church and organizational partners
their radical hospitality. insecure. represent a widely diverse cross-section
Hospitality comes from the Latin root In 2016, the Talkington Foundation of our community:
hospes, meaning stranger or foreigner. provided funds for the purchase of an First Baptist Church
This is a different take on our modern old property near 28th & Ave. Q. This First Christian Church
definition of hospitality, which can have new facility has especially helped us to
more to do with Martha Stewart and fulfill the softer side of our mission. For Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Pinterest than our reception of the “least starters, we no longer look or feel like Monterey Church of Christ
of these” (Matthew 25). a kitchen but a home! Soon after, we PriceGroup, Inc.
It is in this spirit that St. Benedict’s began to host Gentle Mondays, giving
Chapel began in 2007, with Father Barry our friends access to laundry, showers Second Baptist Church
Ferguson and his wife Anne welcoming and a light breakfast. Our new backyard St. Paul’s on the Plains Episcopal
Lubbock’s homeless with daily food remains open daily at 3:00pm to offer Church
and conversation. By 2008, St. Benedict’s peace and respite from the streets. Tom’s St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
had grown to nine diverse churches Tree Place and Betenbough recently
that provided meals 365 days a year on completed a backyard makeover with St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
Broadway and a church service each new trees for shade and seating for rest. Victory Life Church
Other various community activities
take place throughout the When our community practices
year, including weekly hospitality, we are participating in a
Community Prayer on sacred act. True hospitality is an open
Saturdays at 4:00pm and invitation: “I don’t know you, but come
backyard cookouts. Most sit at my table.” We are incredibly
recently, the Talkington grateful to the Talkington family for the
Foundation helped us ways they have helped establish this
remodel our kitchen in invitation into the future.
order to better serve our
friends.

84 Lubbock Senior Link