feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dearest family,

I trust that if you were in church on Sunday you managed to have a good discussion about “hospitality” over lunch, unless of course you were dining your mother, or a mother being dined, in which case the conversation will have been totally and rightly dominated by the extolling of maternal virtues! Space does not allow me to cover the range of points that I made on Sunday but suffice it to remind you of these that relate hospitality to the foundations of Christian life and community.

Hospitality is the basis for communion and community with Jesus and the Father and a non-negotiable manifestation of the gospel. “We will make our home with him…” (Jn. 14:23) Regardless of our self-worth, Father and Son seem to come! To the outcast Zaccheus Jesus said, “I must stay at your house today!” He was known as the “guest of a sinner.” He still is. Hospitality is the image of salvation no less. The essential basis of Christian community is first our community with father, son and spirit when our hearts become the place of hospitality to their visitation and as Jesus said, “We make our home” with you. Is Christ in your heart-house, at home with you and does he have the complete run of the house, complete access with no offlimits? Are you practicing inhospitability to Jesus I any area of your life? Which side of the door is he? He said that if you invite him he will indeed sup with you, and here’s the thrill, and “he with me.” (Rev.3:20) Having described us as hosts we are also presented as guests of course. Were we not originally alienated and are we not now in Paul’s word to the Ephesians “no longer foreigners and aliens... but… members of God’s household.” He took us into his house. The gospel is all about God’s hospitality.

Hospitality is the key to relating to fellow believers and to reaching your neighbors and the world. My heart and my home become the building blocks of the church. It is hospitality and not the building fund that accommodates the work of the church. How accessible is your home. Can people come in? Are people invited in? The privatization of the home has deformed the life of the church. The location of your home is no spiritual accident. Do you have a theology of place? “He determined the exact places where they should live…” (Acts 17:26) Have you read Jn. 1:4 recently? “The word became flesh and moved in to the neighborhood.” Is your home an open door to neighbors? Do you see anything strategic in your geographic placement? Is your home available for the work of God? Are you open to host others, reach out to others, have them at your table? What would your definition of a hospitable person be? Do you meet your definition? Someone has said: “Hospitality formed the foundation of the Christian movement.” How can we underestimate the earthquake of salvationdeliverance that rocked the world when Gentiles showed hospitality to Jews who ended up eating hot-dogs and the shrimps from the barbie. Enjoying the hospitality in Joppa, Peter went for an afternoon prayer and sunbathe. It says he got hungry and wanted something to eat. Guess who acted as the waiter and chef? God dropped a sheet full of meat. Peter had no idea that the next experience of hospitality he would receive would usher in a brand new transnational community of faith that would see the dividing racial barriers of centuries broken and destroyed as the Holy Spirit fell on the gathering at Cornelius’ home. Again, the church was born in hospitality. It says that Peter stayed with them for “a few days.” He then walked straight into a storm of criticism with the circumcised believers. Why. “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Would to God there was more of that kind of fraternizing in church members lives. Talking of world-shaking breakthroughs that began with hospitality. It was in the home of Philemon that reconciliation was effected when a slave became a brother. I’ve preached on Philemon before and you know that this was the crack that was going to bring down empires of injustice. It started with hospitality. It was there too that Paul could write with confidence, “Prepare a guest room for me.” John writes in his epistle “we ought to show hospitality”. He is writing to Gaius who has already been referred to in Romans 16:23 “Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy…” It’s really interesting that one of John’s charges against Diotrophes “who loves to be first” is that he refused to welcome the brothers. His failure in the area of hospitality is related to his selfabsorption, his selfish life-style and the result was disastrous for the church. That was Paul’s grief: “Everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” (Phils. 2:21) Paul’s thinking is clearly presented in Roms. 12:13 “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Immediately before this he had written, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” This is not just about having those we want but those who have need. What needs does hospitality meet other than food? Company, encouragement, acceptance, touch, talk, rest, safety, relationship, friendship, community. Let’s not forget the example of Jesus. The gospels are littered with the evidences of hospitality: Jesus’ meals with tax-collectors and sinners (sounds like this was the way Jesus did his work – also it was the way he was able to identify with those who were aliens and strangers), and let’s not forget the post-resurrection meals. No wonder the agape meal that included the bread and wine, became the bread and butter of Christian community, the main means for intimacy and unity and caring. This kind of hospitality though, becomes a really serious business in the parable of the sheep and goats: “I was a stranger and you invited me in” where “me” is “the least of these brothers of mine.” Suddenly Jesus makes it very personal. The invitee list has one name on it regardless of who we are inviting – Jesus. Our table has one missing guest, regardless of who we are not inviting – Jesus.

Hospitality is a non-negotiable expression of our faith working through our love for both believer and non-believer. Let me at least mention a couple of the other key passages. “Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers. For by so doing some have entertained angels. (Hebrs. 13:1-2) Hospitality is presented as having heavenly possibilities. It certainly has huge consequences. One thinks of Abraham entertaining three strangers. Did not Sarah get a word about a child? Lot entertained strangers which resulted in him being delivered from the destruction of Sodom. Jethro showed Moses hospitality which resulted in Moses finding a wife and a key to his future leadership of Israel, since it was Jethro’s wisdom that introduced the system of eldership to assist Moses’ pasturing of the nation. And did Lydia have any idea of the consequences when she invited Paul to her house? A church was born in that home that became the spring- board for missions in Europe. That simple offer of hospitality produced a huge ROI. What rewards for friendship, for the kingdom of God! “The end of all things is near…Love each other deeply…Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Pet.4:9) Note again the link between brotherly affection and showing hospitality. The issue is not “ do you have the food?” but do you have the feelings? It’s about affections, both for those who do know the Lord and those who don’t. Our hospitableness is a barometer of our love. Maybe the lack of it speaks of our love for self. In this context, Peter is describing some extreme things. First, the times are extreme and demanding. Peter is being realistic about what it takes to live, to get by with all the attendant pressures. The word he uses translated “deeply” carries the idea of being stretched, being extended. There is a cost to hospitality, a sacrifice. It requires generosity. Why does he say “without grumbling?” Because it is seldom what we want. It is bothersome, intrusive. Remember the parable of the friend at midnight when the guy comes with his need. “The door is already locked. Don’t bother me.” Yes, it is stretching. In other words, we are not offering hospitality out of a place of leisure or relaxation all the time, or even abundant provision, or out of convenience. In a lonely culture, people need the home more than a church service. Taking both the Romans 12 and Petrine text together let’s make the point. Hospitality is a non-negotiable expression of our faith working through love.

Perhaps most telling are the words of Jesus. “When you have a dinner…do not invite your friends….invite the poor.” (Lk. 14:12-14) How much more reconciliation, how many more conversions would there have been if we were hospitable. Again, how extremely discomforting are the words of Jesus’ parable in the words of the judging King I’ve already quoted: “I was a stranger and you did not invite me in.” Hospitality is a sign of kingdom ministry which attracts the blessing of God. Its absence attracts words of judgment. God takes our lack of response to others personally – it is a failure to welcome him, befriend him, bless him, invite him.

If our heart and our home was the norm for the community, what would be the health of the community? If the church had no building and just your home, would it grow if your home was typical? If not, why not? I’m suggesting that it is no good just talking about community as if it only has to do with what happens in the building we call the church; if it is only about what the church corporate does to foster, develop and nurture relationships. It is fundamentally about your heart and its response to the Trinity, and your home and its response to others, especially the household of faith.

There are hindrances that we all have to deal with but I need you to see that they are not just running interference with the way we build our personal relationships for our reasons and pleasure, but the way they hinder the community of the church. Can you think of some of these hindrances? What would be on your list? Can’t be bothered? (Lack of motivation, effort, energy, time, money?) Too much work, trouble, other demands? Laziness, selfishness, slovenliness? Shame ?(Place a mess, circumstances awry?) Lack of self-confidence, insecurity, feelings of incompetence? Past bad experiences: personal, familial? Bondage of temperament (shy, unassured, fearful)? Hospitality is a conscious decision because it involves a conscious obedience. We should begin by asking for: a prepared heart for Christ’s concerns and affections and perceptions for others’ needs, and for prepared home – for others not just oneself. We should be asking not only those we want, but those who need us for any number of reasons.

Of course, our personal living spaces are so important for private succor and refreshment; for sustenance and security; for relationships and rest. But hospitality prevents these places from becoming self-serving, encouraging us to invite people into our private space and into our personal lives with its tastes and styles, its photos and keep-sakes, and all those expressions of our personality that invite relationship. The point is, we are invited to co-host the church and the world together with the supping and serving Christ. May his grace as a guest and his generosity as a host, be our example as we cultivate and preserve our obedience to scripture. “Practice hospitality.” And by the way, while you are doing that, He is also still in the hospitality business. “I go to prepare a place for you…In my father’s house are many mansions…” It never ends… He will not be outdone!

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

Announcements

LUNCH AFTER CHURCH: Melissa Wallace and Matthew Tropiano will be leading a group lunch after Church this Sunday at Hunan Dynasty, 215 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Look for Matthew and Melissa outside in front of the church or meet them at the restaurant.

CARE COMPANY THANK YOU: Thank you to all those who so generously contributed to the Mustard Seed Matching Grant. This will be a continued need throughout the year. If you would still like to make a contribution please make checks out to “Care Company” and write “MSF Grant” on the memo line. Send any checks to Care Company / 801 N. Carolina Ave. SE / Washington, DC 20003.

MEN’S MINISTRY:

We will be having a Men’s Golf Outing on Saturday, June 5th. Contact Luke Sunukjian if you are interested, luke.sunukjian@biola.edu.
The next Men’s Breakfast will be on May 22, 9:00—10:30am. Don Lacquement will be leading us into discussion and childcare will be provided.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY: the May Saturday Supper will be postponed until June. Stay tuned for more details!

SUMMER BARBEQUES: We are interested in having barbecues after church during the summer months, and want to make this an opportunity for individuals in the congregation to raise money for an organization or cause that they are interested in supporting. Contact the church office if you would like to run one of these barbeques.

For general questions or building use inquiries, send an e-mail to office@christourshepherd.org.

To communicate updates for the pastoral letter and/ or the church bulletin, send an e-mail to ben@christourshepherd.org. The church bulletin will be completed by end of day on Thursdays.

Bulletin Board
Postings not officially sanctioned by COSC.
Ads will be posted for up to 4 weeks. After that time period,
please contact the church office to see if space will permit the
ad to remain posted.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: Room for rent—4 miles NE of church in Mount Rainier, MD. Looking for a male. Beautiful, clean and spacious 14x20 ft. private, upstairs room in renovated historic home. W/D, A/C, $500/mo. + 1/4 utilities. Near bus line. Contact trobry@msn.com.

HOUSING AVAILABLE: One Bedroom English Basement Apartment for rent on the Hill starting June 1. Includes laundry and a backyard patio. Great landlord. $1,100/mo. Contact Amy Herbert, amyherbert@verizon.net for more information. It has served us well for over two years!

HOUSING WANTED FOR MONGOLIAN INTERN: My name is Javkhaa Ganbaatar, and I am a Mongolian graduate student at Regent. Before coming to America, I served my home church in various roles. I will be interning with a Congressman between May 15-June 30 and am looking for a free or inexpensive room to stay in for maximum 4-6 weeks on Capitol Hill or Downtown. Please let me know if you need more information or have any questions, javkhlantugs.ganbaatar@cbn.org.

MATH TEACHER WANTED: Rivendell School in Arlington, VA, is committed to “helping children explore God’s world and discover their place in it.” If this mission exites you and you are a math teacher, we’d love to hear from you! We are looking for a part-time math teacher to begin work Aug. 2010. Please find application materials on our website, rivendellschool.net, or call the school office, 703-532-1200.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT WANTED: The Christian Legal Society is seeking an EA to support the Executive Director and serve as a liaison to other staff. The position begins on June 1st and the salary range will be between $35,00 to $40,000 plus benefits. Potential candidates will be interviewed the week of May 17. Submit cover letter and CV to fpotter@clsnet.org. To learn more about CLS, visit their website: www.clsnet.org.

Worship Team
The worship team meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7:30—9:30pm to grow and encourage each other in the area of worship, and to rehearse for our Sunday Services. Even if you are not sure you if want to be a part of the team, we welcome your attendance and would love to get to know you. Our next meeting is tonight on May 11.