January 18, 2012 UPB NEWS UPDATE

 United Parish of Bowie

United in Christ – Our Mission: To Serve

Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ

 

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers.

~Hebrews 13:2a

 

Extend hospitality to strangers.

Romans 12:13

 

Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

~1 Peter 4:9

 

This past week I meet with pastors and their leaders from 12-15 different churches within National Capital Presbytery. This two-day workshop, entitled The Acts 16:5 Initiative, included some impressive presentations and lively discussions. One of the questions addressed was: "Is your church friendly?" To which we responded, "Of course, our congregations are friendly. No doubt about it!" Then came a more difficult question: "How does being a friendly church become "strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily" (Acts 16:5)?

 

Before we answered that question, we considered the definitions of friendliness and hospitality.

            Friendliness says: "Hi, how are you doing?"

            Hospitality says: "Would you come into my life?"

 

We see ourselves as being friendly and hospitable when we invite our family and friends to join us for lunch, to come to the house for an evening meal, to attend a special party or celebration, or to attend church related, cultural or sporting events. But biblical hospitality is more. Biblical hospitality from the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains gives the following definition for hospitality:

 to receive and show hospitality to a stranger,

that is, someone who is not regarded as a member of the extended family or a close friend.

 

As we discussed at this session, sharing biblical hospitality is more than inviting someone you know or is a family member to do something together. Biblical hospitality is even far more that saying to someone you don't know:  "How are you?" "Tell me a little bit about yourself."  Biblical hospitality is a heartfelt invitation to someone you don't know or have just met, inviting them to become involved in your life. 

 

Biblical hospitality says "Come and see." "Come, join with me as we stand around the coffee pot and talk with others." Biblical hospitality says to someone you don't know very well or have just met, "Come and be a part of my life – let's go together to the Men's Night Out" or "How about if I pick you up and we go together to Ladies Night Out"…or any other church related ministry/activity." Biblical hospitality says, "Let's walk our journeys together: Let's laugh together, cry together, play together, pray together, grow in faith together."

 

Our dynamic presenter, Stan Ott, shared a story about a congregation where he once served. It was an active congregation, one where deep, life-long friendships developed and grew. It was a place where everyone in the church knew that year after year the same five couples went to Colorado to go skiing.

 

Now it just so happened that within the year, a new couple joined the church. They were eager to become involved, to feel accepted. In a casual conversation, a discussion occurred as to whether or not the new couple would be joining the others when they went skiing.  While the couples felt they should have invited the new couple to join them, they decided not to do so.

 

Long story short: the new couple felt excluded, like they could not break into the inner circle. Yes, the church was friendly, but the church did not practice biblical hospitality; and in the end, the new couple left the church shortly thereafter.

 

As we learned at this conference: growing, thriving, vibrant churches are friendly places, but more importantly they share and live and share and enjoy biblical hospitality.

 

In the couple of weeks I have been with you, I have observed how you are a friendly congregation. I've not been here long enough to know if you practice Biblical hospitality. My prayer is that you do.

 

If you would like to hear more about the workshop, I would love to discuss it with you.

 

Blessings.

~ Rev. Jeri Fields

   UPB Gap Minister

   Office phone: 301-249-6411

   On the web: www.unitedparishbowie.org

 

 

A LOOK AT SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Adult Education (9:45 AM)

Worship (11:00 AM)

Scripture readings: Psalm 62:5-12 and Mark 1:14-20

Sermon: "Let's Go Fishing"

 

Ministry Team Chairs Meeting (immediately following worship service)

 

Chat and Chew after the service with those whose last names begin with H-Z asked to bring something to share.

 

 

A LOOK AHEAD TO THE WEEK OF JANUARY 13-28           

Tuesday, Jan. 24              On the Border Mexican Restaurant, 16403 Heritage Boulevard Bowie, MD 20716 (6:30-8:30)

 

Wednesday, Jan 18         SEEDS (6:00 – 7:15 PM)

                                         Choir Rehearsal (7:30 PM)

 

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

FOOD DRIVE:  To support the Bowie Food Pantry after the holidays when their donations tend to slow down, the Mission & Service Committee invite you, the congregation, to participate in a focused food drive.  While we support the Bowie Pantry all year, this is an opportunity to put more focus on it for the next 7 weeks.  To ensure a variety of items, we have designated certain foods for each week based on input from the pantry. 

January 22       canned fruit and applesauce

January 29       cereal, oatmeal

February 5        peanut butter, jelly

February 12     canned meat such as beef stew, chicken breast meat, chicken and dumplings.

February 19     canned beans - any kind

February 26     toilet paper

March 4             fresh fruit/Fresh vegetables

 

 

SOUPer BOWL SUNDAY: February 5

On Sunday February 5^th, 140 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game.  There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal.  Please join young people around the country as they demonstrate God's love by loving their neighbors through the SOUPer Bowl of Caring.  It's a simple, yet significant act of caring for others.  Bring cans of soup or drop $1 (or more) in the soup pot as you leave worship on February 5^th.  Our young people are developing hearts for giving that can last a lifetime.  Please support their efforts.

 

 

 

 

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