Questions about Hospitality

Good Morning!

I hope you all had a rest-filled weekend and are gearing up for the week ahead.

Just somethings to mark on your calendar and then I will get to the readings for this coming week.
Sunday August 1st will be an outdoor worship and church picnic Bring your lawn chairs for worship and a side dish or dessert to share, plus any yard games. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided by Ancona's. In case of bad weather we will still have lunch, though inside and we will worship indoors that week and hope to then move outside on the 8th.

Yesterday council decided to have a pasta dinner on Saturday September 25 as a kick-off to raise funds to help renovated the basement. Mark your calendars! More details to come.

The book of faith puzzler for this week is: There are two times in the bible when animals talk, can you name one of them? If you know the answer, email it to me and all correct answers will be put into a drawing. The winner will be announced on Sunday in worship.  (You can play on the blog too, just leave a message)

Now onto the lessons:

This weeks text are about hospitality. In the 1st lesson, Genesis 18:1-10a, Abraham extends hospitality to traveling strangers. In return they prophesied that Abraham and Sarah would soon have a son. When have strangers been hospitable to you? When have you been hospitable to strangers? Do you expect anything in return?

The 2nd lesson is Colossians 1:15-28. Paul tells why he has become "a servant of the gospel." How are you a servant of the gospel? Why are you a servant of the gospel? What are something you do that you might not otherwise do in order to extend hospitality to someone that you might not otherwise do, all because of your faith?

The gospel is Luke 10:38-42 the story of Jesus visiting Mary and Martha. Martha is busy doing many task while Mary sits and Jesus' feet and listens to him. When have you received hospitality from someone like Martha who is so busy making sure everything is in order that they don't visit with you? When have you received hospitality from someone like Mary who sits and talks to you even though the house is messy and dinner is not getting made? What does it feel like to receive both types of hospitality? Which would you rather receive?

Hop you all have a great week!