The New Testament word for “HOSPITALITY” (Greek philozenia) comes from the compound of “love” and “stranger”. Hospitality has it’s origins literally, in love for outsiders. Hospitality can come natural for some and be a challenge for others. Join us on a journey of personal and communal growth this summer as we explore ways to cultivate a heart for hospitality.
Plus, this summer we’ll focus some Sunday services on our “Summer Self-Care Challenge”. Everyone who cares for others must all take time for ‘self-nourishing care’. Join us as we pay closer attention to how we live each day and strive to live abundantly in the ways of Jesus.
The Lenten theme was a four-fold focus to move from belief to action (as suggested by Sallie McFague):
- Experience of Voluntary Poverty: models of self-emptying
- Focus Attention on Needs of others: seeing our interdependence
- Gradual development of a “universal self” : widening circles of compassion and empathy (increase delight as self/ego is diminished)
- New Models of ways of Living: Take only your share/clean up after yourself/keep house in good repair.
Our Advent series was based on the book The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. “Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up each morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It’s going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging”.