Unison Prayer of Confession: Hospitality

Here’s a prayer of confession on the theme of hospitality.  It was posted on the website of the Columbia Presbyterian Church.

Unison Prayer of Confession

For the times we are afraid of the stranger,
for the times we refuse the stranger,
because we think our resources are just too meager,
Lord, forgive us.

For the times we stereotype the stranger
as enemy,
as dangerous,
as inferior somehow,
Lord, forgive us.

For the times we are too busy trying to impress our guests—
the times we think we are being hospitable,
but instead serve only our own needs—
Lord, forgive us.

For the times we miss the gift of the stranger,
for the times we close our door in fear,
for the times we miss your face in the other,
Lord, have mercy. Forgive us.

~ from the Columbia Presbyterian Church, Decatur, Georgia.  http://www.cpcdecatur.org/images/documents/4-26-09%20Bulletin.pdf