Hospitality as Blessing
“Strangers rarely bring only their needs; within the hospitality relationship, hosts often experience profound blessing. Acts of hospitality participate in and reflect God’s greater hospitality and therefore hold some connection to the divine, to holy ground.” – Christine D. Pohl Making Room( p.13)
Opening Prayer: Almighty God, who welcomed all creation to be in renewed relationship with you through Jesus Christ, we gather to offer your hospitality to the world. Grant us hearts to welcome, embrace, and make room for immigrants and refugees. Guide our discussions that we may deepen our understanding and grow in empathy. May our time together inspire us to advocate for justice and extend care to all, reflecting the example of Jesus Christ, who welcomed the marginalized and embraced the outsider. Amen.
Blessings
Blessings are gifts of various forms that manifest and reflect God’s love, goodness, and grace. In interactions of hospitality, blessings are continually exchanged between strangers and hosts.
Scripture: Luke 14:7-14
Parables on Hospitality and Humility- Read by Cruz Torres
Discussion Questions:
- How would you describe “blessing”?
- What word or phrase stuck out to you as you heard this parable from Luke?
- What does this scripture say about blessings that come from hospitality?
- How have you been blessed in an instance of hospitality?
Turn on YouTube’s captions and set the language English.
Refection and Discussion: As you listen to story, write down the answer to the following questions. Discuss these questions after the video.
- What stood out to you in story?
- Where do you see dignity violated in story? What do you admire about?
- What part’s of story do you see God’s blessings?
- If was part of your church community, what blessings might he offer?
Application: With these questions in mind, reflect on how your church interacts with God’s blessings?
- How has your church experienced blessings from someone considered “another”?
- How does your church community identify God’s blessings?
- How does your church community respond to blessings it receives?
- How might practicing mutual vulnerability, recognition, and making space for immigrants end up blessing your own church community?
Final exercise
Take 10 minutes to do the following exercise as a group:
- After this curriculum, do you feel the Spirit calling your church community into being in relationships with immigrants?
- Search and create a list of organizations in your area that support immigrants. What opportunities are available to begin to be in relationships with immigrants?
- How might your community practice Christian hospitality through becoming involved with these organizations?
- How might your church community invite, recognize, and make room for immigrants and refugees for blessings to occur?
Take Away’s and Closing Prayer
Before your closing prayer, each person share a take away from the curriculum. Reflect on how this curriculum has challenged you and how it has offered you opportunities to grow. Select one person to offer the closing prayer. In the prayer, offer thanks to God for the take-aways and ask that God might show you more opportunities to grow in relationships with immigrants and to become practitioners of God’s hospitality.
Sacred Hospitality 