Hebrews 13:1-2
Keep loving each other like family. Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it.
It is easy - most of the time! - to love our family and friends. People we have known for years and who make us feel comforted and loved.
Loving new people is harder. We don't know them. We don't share stories. We don't have a base of trust.
Abraham and Sarah were minding their own business, managing their flocks and caring for their household, and grieving that they couldn't have children. They were old - around 90 years for Abraham and 80 for Sarah. One day, some strangers walked up, and Abraham and Sarah immediately moved into host mode. They butchered an animal and started cooking and baking. They made their guests feel at home - comforted and loved.
These strangers were angels - messengers of God. They brought a message that this couple would be blessed with a child and their descendants would number more than the stars in the sky. (Genesis 18:1-15)
I suspect the write of the letter to the Hebrews knew this story, and was reminding his listeners that hospitality is a blessing both to strangers and to us. God calls us to offer comfort and care to strangers - whether in our homes, workplaces, or churches.
One pastor said to me, "God only sends the people you are prepared to receive." Are we ready to receive new people? Are we ready to pay attention to strangers and welcome them, even when we are surrounded by people we know and love and want to talk to?
We are getting ready to put together a new Outreach Team to prepare us for the people God wants to send us. Already, our Caring Ministry Team has updated our Guest Gift bags, to help new people connect with our ministry and with God. We are taking small steps to build our Hospitality Ministry.
We need help: We have already lost one new family because we didn't have a staffed nursery. We have approved hiring a nursery attendant so we can welcome parents and grandchildren with little kids, but so far, we haven't been able to find someone to hire. Please spread the word and try to recruit someone to help us with this ministry to kids.
We need help: When you are worshiping in person, please keep an eye out for new people. We don't want to overwhelm them with smothering attention, but we do want to say hello and welcome them. Make sure they are comfortable, and invite them to come back or attend an upcoming event.
It's hard to open our homes and churches to new people. Things change, and it takes energy and planning to reach out in new ways. God is just asking for us to be ready. God wants new people to come to know God's love and grace, and God wants them to connect to a group of believers that can encourage and support them. Let's keep connecting to God and community through the gift of hospitality at our church.
We might even entertain angels along the way.
Amen.
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter
September 5, 2023
