Welcome Statement

Image contains the lyrics to Shelter Church's Gathering Song on a bright watercolor background:
"Open up our arms, gather us around. Open up our hands, lay our burdens down. All who hunger, come to eat; all you lonely, come to meet. Grace and love will be our guide and the table will be wide."

If you are all of these things, or none of them, you are welcome here. There is a seat for you at this table.

Dignity. Spiritual shelter. Community.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." Matthew 10:40

At Shelter Church, you don't have to check any part of yourself at the door. You are welcome here if you come just for dinner or you want to stay for church too.

You are welcome here if you are exhausted, worried about finances, struggling with your health, or adjusting to new meds. You are welcome here if you are couch surfing, sleeping outside, worried you might lose your housing, or have a steady place to call home. You are welcome here no matter your race, age, gender identity or expression, sexuality, income level, or faith background – all these parts of you are respected & honored.

You are welcome here if you like to sit still and listen or if you have to keep moving. You are welcome here if you are having the best day of your life or the worst day of your life or somewhere in between. You are welcome here if you or your children just need a full belly and to encounter a friendly face. You are welcome here if you love being with people or if you'd rather enjoy your meal alone in peace.

You are welcome here if you have a prayer you would like us to hold with you, and you are welcome here if you have nothing left to say to God. You are welcome here if you love Jesus, you are welcome here if you belong to another faith, and you are welcome here if you're not so sure about this religion stuff but you need to eat.