Making Room Making Room
AdventCrafts-11:15-12:15|SanfordDavisRoom|Allageswelcome Sunday, December 8
ChristmasPageant-5pm|Sanctuary&Livestream Sunday, December 15
LongestNightService-7:30pm|SanfordDavisRoom&Livestream Tuesday, December 17
ChristmasPageant-4:30pm|StonebridgeRetirementCommunity Wednesday, December 18
ChristmasConcert“BorntoSave”-5pm|Sanctuary&Livestream Sunday, December 22
ChristmasEveServices-4pmand8pm|Sanctuary&Livestream Tuesday, December 24
Whatdoesitmeantoyouto“makeroom”forsomeone?Forsomeofus,hospitality evokesmemoriesofsettingatablebeforeguestscomeover,orpreparingaplace forfamilytostayinourhomesduringtheholidays.Iimagineevenasmanyofyou are reading this, there’s a to-do list somewhere of tasks to be done before hosting lovedonesforChristmas!
When we talk about the Biblical value of hospitality, it can include all of these things. But Christian hospitality is not limited to entertaining people we love. It includes making space for the stranger, the people the world would call the “least.” Hospitalityiscertainlynotlimitedtoourdiningtablesbutexpandstoourhearts,our churches,ourwholelives
In this newsletter you will find a devotional with daily scriptures, prayers, and micro practices.Wearen’taskingyouto“master”Christianhospitalityinfiveweeks:rather we are inviting you to “try on ” radical hospitality through small, meaningful practices I hope you will pick a group of people (your small group, your family, a friend) to practice radical hospitality with I wonder what you will find about yourself, about God, about your community I hope you will share your journey with mealongtheway!
As we begin to understand our Christian call to “make room ” for others, let us embrace God’s generous, radical welcome of us As we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus, we can remember that God makes a space for us At God’s table, thereisalwaysroomforyou Thereisalwaysroomforthosewhomightbedifferent from you, with those whom you might be unfamiliar with. At God’s table, there is always room for more. This Advent season, let us be curious about what it could meantopracticeradicalhospitality,extendingGod’sinvitationintobelongingtoall.
With love,
Pastor Tayler
Making Room for God’s Welcome
Passage from the Book of Common Worship
LordJesus,beourholyguest, Ourmorningjoy,oureveningrest; Andwithourdailybreadimpart Yourloveandpeacetoeveryheart. Amen.
Read Isaiah 55:1-13 and Deuteronomy 10:17-19
Reflect
First, God welcomes us, inviting us to be enfolded in God’s welcome, in the abundanceoflifeandmercy,joyandpeace
As we prepare to welcome Christ once again, may we make room for God’s welcome. We are both host and guest. Any welcome we in turn offer is rooted in God’swelcomeofusandinGod’scovenantlaw,whichremindsusthatweoughtto show this Godly radical hospitality because we, too, were once strangers in Egypt, inneedofwelcome
Journal
(usethedotjournal spaceonthisandthefollowingpagestorecordyourreflections)
What do you think would change about your life if you paid attention to God’swelcomemoreregularly?
Whatdoyouthinkwouldchangeaboutyourchurch’slifeifthe congregationpaidattentiontoGod’swelcomemoreregularly?
Micropractice
This week you are invited to pray each day: “Lord, please send me a hospitalityopportunitytoday”
1
Watch and notice the opportunities you find in your daily routines. Can you show hospitality to someone sitting next to you at church? Someone newyoumetonthestreet?Afriendyou’veknownforyears?Attheendof theweek,shareyourexperiencewithyoursmallgrouporafriend.
Making Room for the Lord
Celtic Rune of Hospitality
Wesawastrangeryesterday
Weputfoodintheeatingplace, Drinkinthedrinkingplace, Musicinthelisteningplace, AndwiththesacrednameofthetriuneGod
Heblessedusandourhouse, Ourcattleandourdearones
Asthelarksaysinhersong: Often,often,often,goestheChrist Inthestranger'sguise.
Read Luke 3:1-6
Reflect
JohntheBaptisturgeshislistenerstoprepareforthecomingofGod
To make room for God’s arrival, John says we must repent for our sins. We must alsobereadyfortheoverturningoftheworldasweknowit.Thegoodnewsisthat thisarrivalofGodisnotjustforus,butforthewholeworld!
Journal
WhatkindsofpeopledoesJesuswelcome(e.g.,Mark10:46-52;Luke5:2732;18:15-17)?
Haveyoueverwelcomedastrangerandfoundthatyourguestbrought youclosertoGod?Whatdidyoulearn?
Micropractice
Try the experiment of presuming Jesus is present in each person you encounter Set aside a day, a half day, or a specific window of time, like a trip to the mall or a meeting at work Experiment with presuming Jesus is present in each person you encounter. Presume Jesus is present in every cashier or clerk, every person in line, every person around the conference tableorontheconferencecall.
Does this change the way you relate to them? How? Remember, this experiment does not require that you see Jesus in each person, but only that you presume Jesus is there whether you can see it or not. If it helps, begin the experiment with a brief prayer, “Grant me the gift of eyes to see Christineachperson.”
Making Room for Others
Jean Vanier, Canada
Jesus, make our hearts ever gentler and more humble, so that we may be present to those you have confided to our care, and in this way make us instrumentsofyourlovewhichgiveslifeandjoyandrealfreedom.
Read Luke 3:7-18
Reflect
John the Baptist urges us to repentance and right relationship As we take note of the ways that live with ourselves at the center, rather than making room for the needs and well-being of others, we see how we cut ourselves off from God, from others, and from the fullness of life. Repentance, turning around, living and acting differentlymakesroomforothers,afterGod’sownheart
Journal
Micropractice
Making Room for the Stranger
Canaan Banana, Zimbabwe
Openmyeyesthattheymaysee thedeepestneedsofpeople; Movemyhandsthattheymayfeedthehungry; Touchmyheartthatitmaybringwarmthtothedespairing; Teachmethegenerositythatwelcomesstrangers; Letmesharemypossessionstoclothethenaked; Givemethecarethatstrengthensthesick; Makemeshareinthequesttosettheprisonerfree Insharingouranxietiesandourlove, ourpovertyandourprosperity, wepartakeofyourdivinepresence.
Read Luke 1:39-55
Reflect
Wrapped in Elizabeth’s welcoming embrace, Mary boldly proclaims that God makes room for all kinds of people, especially favoring the hungry and the lowly. TheMightyOneflipssystemsupsidedown,reorientingourpriorities.
Weareinvitedtomakeroomforthosewhoseemdifferentfromus Andindoing so,wemightjustfindthatwearen’tsodifferentfromeachotherafterall
There are a number of reasons why offering hospitality to strangers can be difficult. Why is it sometimes also difficult to offer hospitality to family, friends,andacquaintances?
Whataresomeofyourfearsoruncertaintiesaboutwelcomingstrangers?
Micropractice
Write a poem, haiku, song, or letter to your future self about showing hospitality to strangers. Don’t worry about anyone else reading it; this is just for you and your future self. Write as freely as possible. If you lived without fear, how would you make room for people different from you? Whoarethe“strangers”inyourlife?What,ifanything,doyouhopewillbe differentaboutyourrelationshipwiththeminthefuture?
Making Room for Jesus and the Least of These
Surrounded by
the
byWalterBrueggmann
Vulnerable (Deuteronomy)
October30,2008,ColumbiaTheologicalSeminary
Weknowthelistwell Widow,orphan,immigrant,poor!
Weknowthelistinmanyconfigurations: orphan,poor,widow,immigrant; immigrant,widow,poor,orphan; poor,orphan,immigrant,widow
Theyloomlargeamongus... wearesurroundedbythem!
Weknow,aswell,thattheyloomlargeforyou
Youareattentivetothem
Wepraytoyou,beingsurroundedasweare, Drawusawayfromourprivilege, fromourentitlements, fromouradvantage
Bythishardscroll, Disruptouradvantage
Youredirectourenergies, Yourefocusourfutures, Youbindustoyourwell-belovedneighbors (cont nextpage)
Andwehearcadences, concerning the“least”tobefed andvisited andcaredfor, evenwhileweprattleonabout pensions, andincome, andinterest, andinvestment.
Yousummonusthroughthisscroll, Andchangeouragenda Giveusthisday, thegracetobechangedbythescroll, thatwemaynotice,remember,andacknowledge, perhapstomoveintovulnerability, towardyournewrule Amen
Read Matthew 25:31-46 and Luke 2:41-52
Reflect
Jesus proclaims to us that when we make room for the hungry, homeless, and forgottenpeopleinoursociety,wearemakingroomforhim.
Whenwemakeroom,clothe,feed,serve,andrememberthestranger,wecansee Christ’simageinthemandbeblessed
"Strangers, in the strict sense, are those who are disconnected from basic relationships that give persons a secure place in the world. The most vulnerable strangers are detached from family, community, church, work, andpolity"
Whoaresuchstrangersinyourneighborhoodorcommunity?Whatmight berequiredtohelpthesepeoplefindaplace?
Reflectonthedifferencebetween"beingpresenttopeople"and"problem solving"Withwhichareyoumorecomfortable?Asachurchcommunity, atwhichareyoumoresuccessful?Whichdoyoufeelcountsmoreas "realministry."Why?
Micropractice
Using a humble mind in conversation. You can try this experiment with a family member, church friend, or co-worker. Next time you find yourself in a conversation with someone you know has political views differing from yourown,experimentwithhospitality.Say,“Itrulywanttounderstandyour views on ” Think of yourself as a host welcoming a guest into yourhome Sticktothesetwoinvitations:
Tell me more about how you arrived at your views about this. Tell me moreabouthowitisimportantinyourliferightnow.
Yourjobissimplytolistenandclarify,nottodebate,convince,orputforth your own views One way to do this is from time to time to reflect back to them what you hear them saying. For example, “Okay, so for you, this question [of other religions] really came to a head when your sister married a Jewish man. ” This gives the “stranger” a chance to clarify or enhanceyourunderstanding,andallowsyoutocheckonwhetheryouare gettingit
When you sense yourself tempted to debate or move away from these two invitations, come back to them. You will likely get something of that person ’slifestory–anevent,relationship,orexperiencethatshapedtheir view of the world and of this issue. This is a valuable opportunity to know others better, to see the things they care about deeply and appreciate them,evenifyoudon’tsharetheirvaluesorcommitments
Five to ten minutes are usually sufficient to listen, clarify, and receive the otherperson’sviews.Remember,thegoalisnottocometoanagreement ontheissue,buttograspasfullyasyoucantheotherperson’sview,how theycametothatview,andhowitisimportanttothemnow Attheendof the conversation you will (probably) still genuinely disagree with them and that need not be diminished. It’s fine to say, “We sure have different viewsonthis.Thanksforhelpingmeunderstandyours.”
MakingRoom MakingRoom
