2009 Advent Devotional: December 8

December 8:  Philippians 1.3-11

Mary M. Hurlocker

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he thanks them for their support not only while he is in prison, but for holding him in their hearts.  He prays for them—that their love might overflow.  I remember growing up in a church in a small town where my family frequently invited visitors to church to come home for Sunday dinner.  Often they were students from the college who were far from home and family.  When I took my first job teaching in Canada, I was invited to share Sunday dinner with folks from the church I attended there.  This was our way of showing our love for the stranger.

As I read this scripture, I thought about the ways that First Christian Church of Minneapolis shows our love for the stranger—the refugees we’ve supported from Vietnam and from Burma; the homeless at St. Stephens Shelter; the hungry at Groveland Food Shelf and Feed My Starving Children.

In Haiti, I was the stranger and was made to feel welcome in the church and school that we (Woman-to-Woman) visited.  We were given gifts and honored with prayers from the children and the women who gathered to tell us their dreams and hopes for the future.

Prayer:

Dear Loving and Compassionate Lord,

We are thankful for the people who have taken us in as strangers.  Help us to grow that love by taking the stranger into our lives this Advent season.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.