Love is the Spirit of this Church, and Service is its Prayer.

WORSHIP SERVICE

"Welcoming the Stranger"  
Sunday, October 25, 10:50 am, 2026
Dr. Stephanie L. Krusemark, Guest Preacher

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What does it truly mean to welcome others? Is it simply being friendly, or is it something deeper?

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Drawing on wisdom from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, the Bahá'í Faith, and Unitarian Universalism, this sermon explores hospitality as a sacred spiritual practice that calls us beyond politeness toward genuine belonging. In a time of increasing division, we are invited to choose curiosity over judgment, compassion over fear, and relationship over exclusion.

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Through scripture, reflection, and practical examples, Welcoming the Stranger challenges us to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every person, to make room for voices that have too often been overlooked, and to build communities where everyone knows they belong. The sermon also highlights how Starr King School for the Ministry seeks to embody these values through its commitment to justice, inclusion, and transformative spiritual leadership.

Ultimately, this message offers a hopeful vision of hospitality, not simply as opening our doors, but as opening our hearts to help create the Beloved Community, where there is truly room for all.