Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:
I’m just home from seeing many of you at the Disciples Women’s Retreat in Prescott. It is always a joy to gather with Disciples for worship, education, and relationship-building. Speaking of which … the next big opportunity to gather together is coming up soon: Regional Assembly. More information and registration can be found here, but here I want to reflect a bit on our theme.
The Regional Assembly Planning Team decided to focus on the biblical theme of HOSPITALITY. Hospitality is a key characteristic of the people of God throughout the Bible. It begins in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, when Abraham welcomes three strangers to his ranch, offering them food and drink and a chance to get out of the son. Abraham’s nephew Lot, in a story that is much misused, offered hospitality to visitors to his city. Then Genesis ends when the sons of Jacob are offered hospitality by the Pharaoh in Egypt during a famine. Later in the Hebrew Bible, the Israelites are often reminded to offer hospitality to foreigners, remembering that they too were once offered hospitality in a foreign land.
Hospitality remains a prominent theme in the New Testament – starting with the birth of Jesus, whose parents were told there was “no room in the inn.” As an adult, Jesus both offers and accepts hospitality, frequently dining in the homes of others. Jesus instructs us to invite strangers, the poor, and outcast to our homes for our banquets – offering the love of God to all. Romans and Hebrews both invite and instruct us to be hospitable to strangers.
So … what does biblical hospitality look like today? Who are the “strangers” and “foreigners” of our day? In what ways are we called to offer hospitality to migrants, to homeless veterans, to LGBTQ+ individuals, to young people, to seniors, to any of our neighbors? How do congregations practice hospitality – and how do we FAIL to practice hospitality? These are themes and questions that we will explore in worship and workshops throughout the Assembly.
First Christian Church of Tucson looks forward to offering YOU hospitality this October at our 2024 Regional Assembly. I hope to see you there!
Dios les bendiga!
Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President, Christian Church in Arizona
