Hospitality: Open Door, Open Heart

“He entered his own realm, and his own would not receive him.” In these few words from John’s Prologue, we glimpse the

intractable depths of human estrangement from God. The One from whom all things receive their form, the One whose vitality

animates each creature, the One whose proprietary claim upon the world is without boundaries, once journeyed to his own domain

and no doors opened to receive him.

In Jesus Christ, God has tasted to the full the precarious existence of the stranger in an unfamiliar land. But the excluded God

is in reality the inclusive Host who invites to the banquet not only the privileged and well-respected but also the destitute and

disparaged. Indeed, God’s hospitality draws so wide a circle that it sets a place at table for strangers in their original role as the

fearsome, enigmatic enemy. Thus Jesus instructs his followers to love their enemies and embodies his teaching by sharing a meal

with his betrayer. It is this fundamental re-weaving of basic human relationships in Jesus Christ that motivates Paul to declare:

“Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you.” – John S. Mogabgab in Weavings Jan/Feb 1994

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of anenemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to lead ourneighbor into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice andcommitment. It is not a method of making our God and our way the criteria of happiness, but the opening of an opportunityfor others to find their God and their way. – Henri Nouwen

A Christian View of Hospitality: Expecting SurprisesHospitality is seeing the stranger through the eyes of Jesus. It is choosing to look for Jesus in the eyes of each stranger. It is loving

the stranger. Hospitality is a choice. We choose:

$ To reject suspicion as the first reaction to a stranger.

$ To minister alongside others rather than ministering to them.

$ To let go of some of our own control when we meet strangers and when we interact with those we’ve known for years.

$ To expect surprises from strangers B good surprises that come from God. B Michele Hershberger

I Was a Stranger

and You Welcomed Me

Practicing Christian HospitalityTo keep the door wide open takes missionary zeal and a willingness to let the Spirit lead.– Joe Duggan, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

Hospitality is not “Do they see Jesus in me?”

Hospitality is “Do I see Jesus in them?”

Pat Dove, Director of Hospitality at Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls IA

We are afraid that the stranger will change us - and we are right. A stranger will change us. In true interpersonal interchange, all are transformed. ~ Rev. Gretchen Woods ~

The Barna Group Survey Says . . . Of people looking for a church, 71% claimed“Friendliness to Visitors” is extremely important.40% of visitors make up their mind about achurch before they even see the pastor. Withintwo minutes of the beginning of a service,visitors have formed an opinion about whetheror not the congregation is friendly.A Barna study among unchurched adults showsthat 37% of non-churchgoing Americans saidthey avoid churches because of negative pastexperiences in churches or with church people.Barna’s research indicates that there are 100million non-churchgoing individuals in America.– www.barna.org

Hospitality involves recognizing the presenceof Christ in family, friends, coworkers,neighbors, and complete strangers. It meansresponding to others as we would respond tothe presence of Christ in our midst.– Fred Bernhard & Steve ClappAre you wearing your name tag?When you wear a name tag, youperform a humble act of love: • For new and returning visitors• For members who have alwayswanted to know your name but havebeen too shy to ask• For those who can’t remember yourname or didn’t catch it the first timeand are too embarrassed to ask youto repeat it

Hospitality is not something optional for the church. It is in fact the very essence of the church’s life and witness. As you learn

to improve your practice of hospitality, you will find relationships

transformed not only with the stranger but also with those in the body of

Christ you already know and with your friends and family. Widening the

welcome of your church means learning how to practice the biblical art of

hospitality, to recognize the presence of Christ in the stranger, and to build

transforming relationships. - Bernhard & Clapp

What We Want When We Are Strangers• When visiting a church, most people don’t want to be ignored. People expectthose who are sitting near them to share brief introductions.• People especially do not want to feel ignored during a designated fellowshiptime. If they go to a gathering spot for coffee, they assume that some peoplewill visit with them. They feel rejected if church members are all in tight groupswith people they already know.• Visitors appreciate name tags for themselves and church members.• People want to feel that others are interested in them and pleased to havethem present. – Fred Bernhard & Steve Clapp, Widening the Welcome of Your ChurchWays to Make Guests Feel Welcome at Nazareth

$ Smile! Whenever you make eye contact with someone in church,

especially someone you may not know, smile! You’ll feel better and so will

they, even if no words are shared. This is especially important for parents

of small children who may be self-conscious about their child’s behavior

and may be worried about whether or not this is a place where they will be

accepted and comfortable. And don’t forget to smile at and greet people

who come to church alone.

• If you sit next to someone or see someone you’ve never met, don’t be

afraid to introduce yourself. Afraid you might mistake a long-time

member for a visitor? Just say, “I don’t believe we’ve met before. My

name is . . .” If you discover that he or she is a guest, then share a word of

welcome and offer to be of assistance if they have questions about the

worship service or about Nazareth.

• Avoid taking the parking spaces closest to the church. Save them for

guests and those with special needs.

• Finally, remember Nazareth’s Mission Statement: Living together in

God’s amazing grace, we know Christ, grow in Christ, make Christ known.

We need each member working together with every other in order to make

this statement a reality. Let Nazareth be a place where all are truly

welcome. – Pastor Brian King, Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church

Materials compiled and designed by Nancy Woodford (nancy.woodford@naz.org) to accompany Pastor Brian King’s April 18, 2010

sermon, “Whomever God Chooses, God Uses” at Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls IA 50613.

God is a traveler in search of refuge. God is a traveler looking for a burning candle in the window. So chain up the guard dogs, shut away the fears of invasion. Sweep the kitchen. Let us put on clean sheets in the inner rooms of our souls. Have coffee and tea and bread ready. We are here to welcome God. ~ Lani Wright