Bishop Robert Schnase wrote: “Churches practicing Radical Hospitality … surprise newcomers with a glimpse of the unmerited gracious love of God that they see in Christ.”
“Radical Hospitality describes churches that strive without ceasing to exceed expectations to accommodate and include others” (pg 21; Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations ©2007).
Many people and congregations are more generous and gracious at Christmas than at any other time of year. Primrose United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas is also very generous.
Every year we put out a Christmas tree or an Angel tree, which carries pertinent information about children’s needs for Christmas. We buy clothes, toys and sometimes food so that the children will not do without Christmas celebrations. Often times the children that we help are those we have encountered through some function, activity or event that happened at our church facilities. Some years we have helped the residents of the nursing home across the street – most of whom are quite elderly.
This year we did all of the above! As of this writing we have helped more than 27 children (and their parents), 3 nursing home residents and several adults have gifts under their Christmas trees this year. For a couple of families we even provided the Christmas tree. For quite a few families we provided Christmas dinner. That’s hospitality – sharing “the unmerited gracious love of God” with others that have come to us. We may be demonstrating the abundance of God’s grace and power as well.
But, with Bishop Schnase, I believe God is calling us to Radical Hospitality. God wants us to surprise our neighbors with a generous measure of God’s grace and love. Many people anticipate or expect churches to give something extra during the Christmas season. But, what if we gave clothes, toys, and/or food during the week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January? Or on St Valentine’s Day in February? Or at Easter? Or at St Patrick’s Day? Would that be the radical hospitality that strives “without ceasing to exceed expectations … to include others”?
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2 comments:
Okay, here's another thought. A few years ago a group of friends decided to take the amount of money they would normally spend on gifts for each other and anonymously put the money in a stocking at their annual Christmas get-together. It's always anonymous so no one has to feel bad if it's a lean year. The money is then counted and donated to a charity that the grop decides tgether. No one has to take home something that sits on a shelf and collects dust and everyone gets to take pride in making a real difference for someone at Christmas.
That is a fantastic idea! Are they still doing that? Are y'all participating?
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