"Extend Hospitality To Strangers" with the Rev. Dr. Kristofer Lindh-Payne

St. Francis Spiritual Sustenance : September 27, 2022 ========================================

In today’s video, Kristofer reflects on what it means to welcome others - to be a place and a people of hospitality. He shares a few examples of ways that he sees us at St. Francis working diligently to “welcome the stranger”. What ways do you see people in our parish and community center exemplifying this scriptural value? Kristofer also challenges us to consider ways that we might continue to grow in this area of ministry. What are ways that you believe we can deepen our commitment to hospitality? The Apostle Paul is just one of many voices from our tradition that call us to radical welcome. How are you feeling this call to welcome and hospitality in your own life and ministry?

Paul’s Letter to the Church in Rome (12:1-13)

“12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.[a] 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian 9

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.”