During the month of September, the United Methodist Church will be involved in a national media campaign/presentation called Igniting Ministries. The purpose is to invite folks not involved in church to visit a United Methodist Church. Elsewhere in the newsletter you will find out information about this program. Here are some thoughts on hospitality.

Henri Nouwen’s book “Reaching Out” is still a fine description of this Biblical concept of hospitality. Nouwen reminds us that “hospitality” in the Bible reflects the conditions in the biblical world where motels and hotels were not available. In the Bible, God’s people are taught to welcome the stranger, the alien, the widow, and the orphan into our midst, because God’s people were once themselves strangers in a foreign land (referring especially to the Israelites’ enslavement in Egypt). Nouwen says that such hospitality consists of these facets:

1. Free and friendly space – creating physical, emotional, and spiritual space for the newcomer to join us

2. Stranger becomes a guest – in that atmosphere of hospitality, the stranger is treated like a guest and potential friend

3. Guest protected – hospitality requires that we offer protection or “sanctuary” to the guest

4. Host gives gifts – the host welcomes the guest by providing the best gifts possible

5. Guest gives gifts – in that environment of hospitality, the guest often reciprocates and gives gifts to the host, too

6. Poverty of heart and mind – in order for us as hosts to receive the “gifts” that our guests bring, we need an attitude which Nouwen calls “poverty of heart and mind” – in other words, we have to believe that we don ‘t know it all and have not experienced it all, but we are receptive to learn from newcomers

7. All guests are important, gifted – in the environment of hospitality, we discover that all guests are important and gifts, even those we might least suspect

8. Acceptance, not hostility – Nouwen reminds us that hospitality is based upon acceptance, not hostility, especially the kinds of subtle hostility which makes fun of newcomers or puts the newcomer into embarrassing situations

9. Compassion – hospitality is basically a sense of compassion, a realization that we are more alike than we are different

10. Confrontation, honesty – hospitality is not being a doormat to the guest, it includes confronting one another in honesty, as well as with compassion.

11. God as the ultimate Host – hospitality reminds us that we are all guests of God who is the ultimate Host who welcomes us

For all who practice hospitality, thanks for being the church.

-John Simmons