Some have claimed that the most distinctive mark of early Christians was how they loved those around them through practical signs of hospitality- caring for the sick, inviting strangers into their homes, etc. One of the things that people in the CSF community have sensed God is leading us towards is a greater awareness of becoming a people of hospitality- welcoming and loving 'strangers' and 'aliens' of all types. Sometimes this may simply be to reach out to a new person who doesn't know anyone. Other times we may extend ourselves to include the person who is feeling like an emotional alien, who feels like no one cares about them even though they are in a room of people who know their name. In the bible a lot of action takes place around the gates of a city. This was a public space where people could interact. Our cities don't have gates nor do we have many social settings where people can begin to form new relationships with people outside of their current group of acquaintances. People surround us daily but we live in an isolated society where sometimes communal interaction is rather limited, especially with people that we don't know very well. How do we break out of these isolating walls? That's the art and the heart of hospitality- creating places where we can begin to develop relationships with others that respect them as people with a story to be told, heard, and, maybe, lived together. This isn't the job of one person or even one group of people. Welcome and hospitality is the job of the whole community. Since this is the job of the whole community we want to put the resources of CSF within the grasp of the whole community- our building, our possessions, and even our money. Below is a link to a downloadable Hospitality Grant. If you have an idea to create a hospitable environment that will allow for relationships to grow then we want to hear from you. Please download the form, fill it out and let's start dreaming together of ways to help others experience the life-changing presence of Jesus as mediated through the kindness of our welcome and caring. To Download The Hospitality Grant Click Here... http://ukcsf.org/UkCsf/Hospitality.html One of the books that has helped to shape our thinking on hospitality is by Dr. Christine Pohl. If you are interested in relearning the forgotten tradition of Christian hospitality and ways that Christians have lived out their faith over the centuries then this is a great place to spur on your thinking. http://www.amazon.com/Making-Room-Recovering-Hospitality-Christian/dp/0802844316/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7825527-2042503?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189459338&sr=1-1 http://ukcsf.org/UkCsf/Hospitality.htmlhttp://www.amazon.com/Making-Room-Recovering-Hospitality-Christian/dp/0802844316/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7825527-2042503?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189459338&sr=1-1shapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1
What’s the BIG deal about Hospitality?