Nothing deepens the quality of relationships in a church as much as eating together. Meals are how you welcome newcomers, care for the lonely, and get past the post church coffee conversations. We eat with family and friends, and with people we value.

For some people, opening up their homes to others is as natural as breathing. I think of the family who invite people back to lunch every Sunday. They've been committed to this for years and their family has grown up seeing this as a natural expression of the faith.

For others, the idea of hospitality is terrifying. Its hard to get your own household together, let alone others. Be it the student group house, the busy young family, or the retirees with a tight budget - hopsitality isn't always easy.

Hot Soup Sunday is one simple idea we've done at church for the last couple of years. We nominate one Sunday where we encourage as many people as possible to be either hosts or guests of a simple soup meal after church.

It works because its simple. Soup isn't intimidating to prepare but good cooks can still razzle dazzle. It doesn't take hours to make. It won't break the budget. Everyone loves soup.

We promote it a month out, asking people to sign up as hosts or guests (see [url=http://stbarnabas.com.au/?p=303]http://stbarnabas.com.au/?p=303[/url] for an Andy Warhol Campbells Soup pop art graphic) The take up has been great each year and somehow the number cooking has matched the number eating.

A week out we line up hosts and guests - trying to mix up ages, congregations, those who are new with those who've been around longer etc.

For the last couple of years its been a roaring success. Its easy to program it in winter. (I've toyed with a Spring BBQ Sunday & Summer Salad Sunday but we haven't tried them yet).

My hope is that having organised meals like this helps us eat together more often. Time will tell.

What has worked for you?