Welcome to Sabbath.

Originally hospitality was God's idea. With His word he separated the land from the water, by His word he spread the skies open, made trees grow and plants flourish. God spoke fish and game to exist and with His word God invited man into being, to sit in the table He had prepared. Ever since creation the very core of God's plan for hospitality has been about sharing life. He made man in his image, He gave man a spirit from His breath. He gave from His own, He invited to share. He created man to be a partner, to rule with Him and created him a companion, it is no good for man to be alone.
Hospitality doesn't mean pompous presentation of richness but in it's most simple pure way it is transparency, presence, breaking bread and sharing the Word and dwelling in them. Like the old phrase says, shared sorrow is divided, shared joy is multiplied. Freely we have received, freely we will give.


"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Lk. 12:32-34


Here in Guildford we have found that one of our favourite ways to practise hospitality is to celebrate Sabbath. Most often it's Saturday evening when one of us whips up a simple but delicious meal, and we invite group of friends to come around dining table. We begin our Sabbath by REMEMBERING, remembering who God is, who we are and where God is and where He has been this week in our lives and where we can see His works in our world. Then we eat together. Next we CELEBRATE often with communion, breaking bread and drinking wine and celebrating the life and death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We give thanks to God. Then it's time for a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of cake. Thirdly we DEDICATE, we pray for ourselves and our friends, our needs and the world's needs, dedicating the week to come, giving our joys, frustrations, sorrows and worries to the hands of God, trusting that He is everlastingly good.


In these simple ways we invite God deeper into our lives, and others deeper into God. Eating together levels things out, it sustains and keeps us dependant on others. REMEMBERING, CELEBRATING and DEDICATING together inspires, encourages and challenges us individually and as a community.